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Desire2Learn Implementation Standards

Course Menu

• May be added to but not subtracted from. Additions should be limited.

Textblocks and page titles

• Ordinarily every page should have an upper title

Professor

• The inclusion of a photo on the instructor contact page is optional.
• The word "Professor" may be changed to "Instructor" as appropriate .

Calendar

• The major milestones and due dates of any course component that receives a grade should be listed on the calendar tool.

Content Modules

• The overall organization of the course may be implemented through content modules (one per unit of instruction) or a comprehensive content module table of contents.
• All content within a course must use ther term "Module" at the upper most level of content divisions.
• The Getting Started module is required at the top of every Course Content page.

Tables

• HTML tables were not originally meant to be page layout tools. In the future, page layout will be accomplished through cascading style sheets. At the present, however, web page designers are making extensive use of tables for this purpose.
• If you decide to use a table in your page, there are two issues that you should consider:
  1. Adaptive technologies such as the Jaws screen reader work best with basic tables. Please avoid tables within tables. Also note that screen readers read tables vertically, column then row. Therefore, headings for information in a table cell should be inside the same cell or in the row above that cell. Avoid placing headers in a cell in the same row as the information it points to.

Links

• Do not use hyperlinks of the type "click here." Screen readers have an option to list and read all hyperlinks on a page. A list of twenty items all reading "click here" would not be instructive.

Alt Tags

• All graphics should have alternative text (alt tags) for ADA Section 508 compliance. Additional details about ADA web standards can be found at:
  • http://www.section508.gov/
  • http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm

Fonts

• Research shows that sans-serif fonts (ie. Arial or Verdana) are more easily read on computer monitors than are serif fonts.
• Black text on a white background is recommended.
• Font size of 12 is recommended for most content

Chat

• Chat is a synchronous tool. Therefore chat should not be a required part of the assessment of student performance.
• Optional use for student consultation is recommended.