Accessibility: eLearning
South Dakota State University offers a variety of tools to support accessible online learning and help all students engage with course content more effectively. These tools assist with everything from captioning and screen reading to file accessibility and speech-to-text support.
eLearning materials should be used at all times, but are especially important when:
- Creating course content or designing a course
- Teaching all learners
- Online, hybrid or remote learning
- Public facing content
Quick tips:
- Make text easy to read (fonts, simple language, heading structures, color contrast, etc.).
- Provide alternatives for media (captions, alternative text, audio descriptions, etc.).
- Ensure keyboard and screen reader access.
- Test your content.
- Panorama allows you to upload content before it becomes student facing and will review your content. Aim for a score of 85% or higher. Focus on documents with lower scores to increase your overall score.
- Captioning is available through Zoom, Teams, D2L Media and Panopto, making video content more comprehensive and easier to follow.
- Visit Accessibility: Captions for more details.
- Screen readers like ReadSpeaker, Narrator, VoiceOver, Panorama and AI Tutor help students navigate digital materials and interact with course content.
- Speech-to-text tools, such as Microsoft Dictate and Apple VoiceOver, support students with writing tasks, while text-to-speech options allow materials to be read aloud for improved comprehension.
- Accessibility checkers built into Panorama, Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat help ensure your course files meet accessibility standards and are usable by all.
- Visit Accessibility: Best Practices to view more information about built-in vs. manual checking.
Panorama
What it does
Panorama scans course content in D2L for accessibility issues and provides alternative formats like audio, HTML and ePub to support learning needs. It helps instructors identify barriers and gives students flexible access to materials.
When to use It
Use Panorama to assess and improve accessibility for:
- PDFs
- Word documents
- PowerPoint presentations
- HTML pages
- Audio versions
- ePub for mobile reading
How it works
- Panorama automatically displays accessibility scores next to uploaded files.
- Click the Panorama icon to view alternative formats or remediation tips.
- Instructors can access course-level reports to track accessibility progress.
Example
A syllabus shows a 50% accessibility score. Panorama flags missing headings and alternative text and offers an audio version for students.
Panopto
Why it’s important:
A video platform for recording, captioning and sharing lectures and presentations.
- Autocaptioning and manual caption editing.
- Keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility.
When to use it:
Use Panopto to record, edit and share accessible video content directly within D2L courses.
Where or how to use it:
Instructors can add Panopto to D2L modules via external learning tools. Videos are stored in course-specific folders and can be embedded anywhere in D2L.
Example:
A lecture video embedded in D2L includes autogenerated captions and a quiz. Students can navigate using keyboard shortcuts and view captions in multiple formats.
ReadSpeaker
A text-to-speech tool that reads digital content aloud, helping students with reading challenges or those who prefer auditory learning.
- Reads aloud course content with synchronized highlighting.
When to use it:
Use ReadSpeaker in D2L to provide text-to-speech support for course materials, documents and assessments.
How to use it:
ReadSpeaker is integrated into D2L and automatically activates for all courses. Students can click the listen button on documents or HTML content.
Example:
A student with dyslexia uses ReadSpeaker to listen to a PDF assignment in D2L, adjusting the reading speed and highlighting color for better comprehension.
Microsoft Dictate
Microsoft Dictate is a built-in speech-to-text feature in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Outlook and PowerPoint. It transcribes spoken words into text in real time and supports multiple languages and voice commands.
When to use it:
It's helpful for users with physical, cognitive or temporary limitations that make typing difficult.
How to use it:
Click the dictate button on the home tab in a supported app, and then speak clearly into your microphone. Use voice commands like “period” or “new line” for punctuation. Always review and edit the text for accuracy.
Example:
A student recovering from surgery uses Dictate to complete assignments hands-free. A staff member with dyslexia speaks emails aloud to reduce spelling errors.
- Panorama: Use the Panorama accessibility report in D2L to identify issues and follow step-by-step remediation guidance.
- Panopto: Review captions in the Panopto editor for accuracy.
- ReadSpeaker: Test the listen button on various content types in D2L. Use keyboard navigation to ensure full access.
- Microsoft Dictate: Use a quality microphone, speak at a moderate pace and check Dictate settings to ensure the correct language is selected. Always proofread the final text for clarity and accessibility.