Embedded Files
LMS Evaluation and Introduction
LMS Evaluation and Introduction
Welcome to Week 4 of the research between the Desire2Learn and Moodle Learning Management Systems. Due to the large number of screenshots for this demo, please click on the labeled thumbnails to view the full sized images.
The following LMS tasks have been covered for this week:
Modify Dropbox Assignment with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Uploading YouTube Video W/CC
Using an Accessible HTML Template with Cascading Style Sheets
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
D2L LMS Evaluation
D2L LMS Evaluation
Modify Dropbox Assignment with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Dropbox Assignment with Differentiated Release Conditions
Educational institutions must be able to accommodate students with special needs, in order to help them be successful in the classroom. For learning management systems, this can be accomplished by allowing additional time for those students.
In D2L, to allow additional time for specific students, navigate to the Dropbox assignments (Dropbox 1), click the arrow beside an assignment and then click "Edit Folder" (Dropbox 2). Double check the due dates, and then click the "Add Users to Special Access" button (Dropbox 3). In this example, the due dates were extended by a week, and the student was chosen from the list (Dropbox 4).
Click "Save" in order to allow that student extra time to turn in the assignment.
Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
Quizzes can also be edited in order to allow additional time for students with special needs.
Navigate to the "Quizzes & Exams" list (Quiz 1), click the arrow beside the quiz to edit and then click "Edit" (Quiz 2).
Again, take a note of the existing open and close times for the quiz, and then click the "Add Users to Special Access" button (Quiz 3).
Like before, choose the student from the list, and edit the due dates. In this example, the end date was extended by a week, and the time limit was increased to 2 hours (Quiz 4).
Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Uploading YouTube Video W/CC
Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Uploading YouTube Video W/CC
Assignments, HTML pages, forums, and quizzes go a long way to providing the required course content for students. Video content is also helpful, however in order to accommodate students with special needs, that video content must have closed captioning.
Please view the video demonstration at the bottom of this page on how to embed a YouTube video with closed captioning in D2L.
Using an Accessible HTML Template with Cascading Style Sheets
Using an Accessible HTML Template with Cascading Style Sheets
HTML content can be added to courses in order to provide information for assignments and projects. In order to work with screen readers, that content needs to utilize CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to properly format headings and text. D2L can utilize existing W3C compatible HTML templates in order to create those pages.
Please view the video below on how to upload and edit HTML templates to use for D2L course content.
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
According to a review by the Office of Information Technology by the University of Colorado, D2L does well in some areas, and not so well in others with regards to accessibility. The OpenDyslexic font that is supported aids those with dyslexia when reading text on the screen. Also, the default video player is now HTML 5 compatible.
However, the HTML editor is not very compatible with screen readers without significant workarounds. Other features like the navigation and calendar also require workarounds due to how they are displayed on the page. One of the suggested workarounds for the HTML editor is to use the pre-made HTML template as demonstrated above (D2L 2017).
Moodle LMS Evaluation
Moodle LMS Evaluation
Modify Assignment with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Assignment with Differentiated Release Conditions
As with D2L, Moodle can accommodate students with special needs for assignments via the user override option. To access the user overrides, click the assignment in the course to view it, and then click the gear icon and choose "User Overrides" (Assignment 1).
Then, click the "Add user override" button (Assignment 2).
Choose the student from the drop-down list, and then adjust the due dates accordingly. In this example, the due dates were extended by a week. Then click the "Save" button (Assignment 3).
Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
As with assignments, quizzes can also utilize user overrides. Like before, click the quiz in the course to open it, click the gear icon, and then choose "User Overrides" (Quiz 1).
Choose the student from the drop-down, and adjust the dates and time limits as needed. In this example, a password was also set in order to ensure additional security for this override (Quiz 2).
Click "Save" to finalize the changes.
Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Uploading YouTube Video W/CC
Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Uploading YouTube Video W/CC
Embedding video content can greatly enhance the content for courses. In order to accommodate students with special needs, video content with closed captioning is required.
There are two options to embed video content within a Moodle course, either via a page resource, or directly in the main course page itself.
Please view the video demonstration at the bottom of this page on how to embed a YouTube video with closed captioning in Moodle.
Using an Accessible HTML Template with Cascading Style Sheets
Using an Accessible HTML Template with Cascading Style Sheets
This is one area where Moodle and D2l differs significantly. Moodle was designed with users in mind that would have little to no HTML knowledge, which is why much development was devoted to the HTML editor. CSS is utilized throughout the entire Moodle theme design, so that the W3C compliance can be applied to all components of the LMS. As such, preset heading styles can be applied while creating content in the HTML editor.
Pre-made HTML pages can be embedded within a course, just not edited. However, there are other options for instructors who need to create and modify large amounts of HTML content.
Please view the video demonstration below on how to embed HTML sites, as well as view alternative options that are included for Moodle courses.
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
According to the Accessible U article by the University of Minnesota, Moodle performs exceptionally well with W3C compliance. From the prompts for alternate image text, to breadcrumb trail navigation, accessibility was integrated into the core of Moodle. The HTML editor is designed to force the use of heading styles, and also includes accessibility checker and screenreader helper tools with the editor buttons.
Even with all of the accessibility features, poor course design can compromise its effectiveness. As with all learning management systems adherence to core design strategies is critical to maintaining compliance (Center 2017).
Embedding Youtube Videos with Closed Captioning
Embedding Youtube Videos with Closed Captioning
LMS Weekly Recommendation
LMS Weekly Recommendation
Modify Assignments with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Assignments with Differentiated Release Conditions
Both D2L and Moodle perform very well with providing features to accommodate students with special needs. D2L provides the options during the creation of the assignment, whereas Moodle provides the options after the creation of the assignment.
Modify Quizzes with Differentiated Release Conditions
Modify Quizzes with Differentiated Release Conditions
As with assignments, both D2L and Moodle provide the required options to accommodate students with special needs for quizzes. Both perform very well at this task.
Provide Alternative Learning Materials via YouTube with Closed Captions
Provide Alternative Learning Materials via YouTube with Closed Captions
Both D2L and Moodle have the ability to embed YouTube content into courses. Depending on the design, D2L can be simpler since it has the option to add a video, instead of adding a page and then pasting the code. Moodle also has the option to embed the video directly into the course, without having to click on a page or video link first. Both work well, so this feature is more dependent upon course design and instructor preference.
Using Accessible HTML Templates with CSS
Using Accessible HTML Templates with CSS
This feature spotlights a major difference in design between D2L and Moodle. The HTML editor in D2L isn't too functional, so the ability to use pre-made HTML templates and edit them is extremely effective. This not only provides a better design for instructional pages, but also ensures compliance if the accessible templates from the Brightspace community are used.
Instead of relying on pre-made templates, Moodle focused on expanding the functionality of its HTML editor, and integrated accessibility compliance into the core of the system. The HTML editor can be used to create page and book resources, which in turn can be duplicated and edited as templates within the course. If needed, pre-made HTML sites can be embedded into courses, just not edited, only viewed.
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
This research was actually a little surprising. It now makes more sense why D2L included the ability to use and edit accessible HTML templates, since the included HTML editor does not support screen readers too well. The large number of workarounds for other components of D2L was unexpected.
Since version 2, Moodle focused efforts to completely integrate accessibility into the core of the system, which in turn permeated all components of the courses. CSS can be modified and added directly into the theme settings, without having to modify CSS files by hand. This, along with design decision like the breadcrumb navigation and prompted alternate image text, rates Moodle very high with accessibility compliance.
However, all compliance standards can be compromised by poor course designs, so ultimately the best compliance tool are trained instructors who know how to design courses appropriately.
References
References
Center, U. o. (2017). Moodle. Retrieved from Accessible U:
http://accessibility.umn.edu/instructors/moodle
D2L - Accessibility. (2017, March 22). Retrieved from Office of Information Technology:
http://www.colorado.edu/oit/services/teaching-learning-tools/desire2learn-d2l/accessibility
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse