Think about structure
Use the University of Chichester Moodle Minimum Requirements when thinking about how to structure and display information. The Handbook resource should be used to display important module information.
Use Microsoft 365 applications for documents
Make sure that any uploaded resources are accessible to open, navigate and understand. Microsoft 365 applications have Accessibility Checkers for you to check when you are building resources, and Learning Tools for your students when accessing. Please follow our accessibility guides when creating learning materials.
Stick to the default theme
We have carefully thought about font types, sizes, colours and navigation when building Moodle. If you insert your own code to change these defaults it may make your content unusable for those who rely on assistive technologies.
Adding ALT text to images
If you add images to your Moodle page, please make sure that you add alternative text to them so that they can be read by users to rely on screen readers.
When you add an image to Moodle, you will see the ability to:
- Add a description of the image for someone who cannot see it
- Tick whether the image is just for decoration and that a description is not necessary. If this is selected, the image will be ignored by screen readers.
For further guidance on when and how to add ALT text, please see our guide to creating accessible images using ALT text
Avoid out-of-office deadlines
Set assignment due dates at a time when department and IT support is available.
Test your Moodle page from a student perspective
You can view your Moodle pages from the point of view of a student:
- Navigate to your Moodle page
- Click on your profile image in the top-right
- Select Switch role to...
- Select Student
Is your page easy to navigate? Can you find the information easily? Does content appear where you'd expect it to? Are sections or resources hidden?
Be descriptive with hyperlinks
Do not use "click here" as this does not explain where the link leads to. Make sure the hyperlink is descriptive, and add an explanation as to why you want them to access it if it is not already clear.
Using Headings
If you are adding a lot of text to your Moodle page, maybe using the Text, Page or Book resources, taking advantage of Headers will help screen readers to navigate.
You can select a Heading via the Paragraph formatting button.
The page title will be displayed as Heading (large), and you can use medium and small to identify sections and sub-sections within the text.
Don't use images that include text
It can be tempting to add images that include text, such as a poster, to make your page look more exciting, but remember that this content may not be accessible to all. If you want to use the image, make sure you also supply a text version of the same information.
Think about your naming of resources
Avoid vague titles, such as week 1, 2, 3 etc). This can make content frustrating to find. Also, consider adding descriptions explaining to the students what you want them to do with the resource.
Check colour contrasts
Check colour combinations for materials such as presentation slides to ensure they meet recommended accessibility standards. WebAIM's online colour contrast checker can help.
Formatting tables with headings
If you are using tables on your Moodle page, adding headers can help users who require screen readers. You can define headers on columns, rows or both.
If you need further support, please email the TEL Team: TEL@chi.ac.uk