Course Development and Instructional Design #11
11 Usability tests are conducted and applied and recommendations based upon Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAGs) are incorporated.
Deficient Developing Accomplished Exemplary
The University is committed to Section 508 compliance for all local websites and applications, as well as all cloud-hosted sites and services. Local sites and web applications are tested using specialized software, which will detect Section 508 violations. Online cloud-hosted SaaS services applications are extensively evaluated by the university. All campus units must submit evidence of accessibility compliance in the form of a completed Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), which documents how the software complies with Section 508 standards. Information Technology Team members work with vendors to obtain the necessary documents prior to submitting orders and renewals. Should a vendor fail to provide the necessary ACR/VPAT, their software application is manually reviewed by the university, and any Section 508 violations are documented, along with the vendor’s plan for remediation of identified issues.
In compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act the School of Information ensures that all students have access to course content. For transcription and closed captioning, the School uses services provided by Automatic Sync Technologies, which has established a contract with the CSU Chancellor’s Office for access to services by CSU campuses.
Panopto: The iSchool cloud-hosted Panopto system includes integration with Automatic Sync Technologies (AST). After a faculty member records a lecture, they are required to submit the recording for captioning using a simple process. The audio from the lecture is then submitted to AST, where staff manually transcribe the audio. Closed captioning is then returned to Panopto within 24 – 48 hours and added to the recording.
Requests for transcription of faculty-produced media are handled by the iSchool Instructional Media Developer, who submits MP3 audio tracks to Automatic Sync Technologies, where they are reviewed and transcribed within 48 hours. Transcripts are returned to the Instructional Media Developer, who then passes them on to the faculty member who originally requested the transcription. Examples of iSchool media materials that have been transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies include the “How To” videos created for the required INFO 203 course.
VoiceThread: For Platinum customers, such as the School of Information, VoiceThread has added automatic closed captioning using machine-generated captions.
Canvas Studio: Recordings created in Canvas Studio can be captioned using machine-generated captions. A manual process is required to initiate the creation of captions.
Closed Captioning of Live Events
For live online events that require closed captioning, iSchool uses the services of IBSU.net, a company that employs transcribers who join the online event and provide closed captioning services. Typically, this is facilitated using the Closed Caption tool in Zoom, which allows the transcriber to enter captions in real time and likewise allows participants to view the captions in real time. The captions are also included in the session recording, so users who view the archived recording may also view the captions if desired.
Examples of events where live closed captioning services have been used include:
Zoom synchronous class sessions where a student with a need for closed captioning has been identified.
MLIS Open House sessions (held via Zoom), if requested
Live vendor demonstrations held via Zoom
The annual virtual celebration of graduates held via Zoom in May.
The school’s website complies with California law AB434, which requires adherence to both Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards
