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Web pages Images Conferencing Chat Audio/Video PowerPoint PDF Advanced Multimedia

How To Multimedia Topics: Flash | Shockwave | Java | Whiteboards

Students Affected:

Principles: Provide Meaningful Alternatives

What It Means

Electronic whiteboards allow you to draw images, charts, and processes the same way you would on a classroom chalkboard.

There are several ways to use electronic whiteboards in the online classroom. For example:

• Illustration. An instructor draws and saves whiteboard images. The images can be printed, e-mailed to students, or posted in the online classroom.
  
  
• Real-time discussion. An instructor draws on the whiteboard while students watch online. Students collaborate, make comments, or ask questions via a chat program.
  
  
• Audio/video description. An instructor creates an audio or video file that describes their whiteboard image(s). The images and audio/video are synchronized to create a multimedia presentation.
  
  

Electronic whiteboard files are saved as images—they are unreadable by screen readers unless you include a text equivalent. Since whiteboards often support real-time visual interaction, even a detailed description of the drawing may fall short of true accessibility.

How It Works

• Illustration. Follow the guidelines for images—including providing appropriate alt text and long descriptions—to ensure screen reader users can access your content. (To learn more, visit the How To: Images section of this Web site.)
  
  
• Real-time discussion. This type of whiteboard presentation is difficult to make accessible. The whiteboard images must be described in real-time. The instructor, or a designated non-participant, could use a chat program to describe the image as it is being drawn. However, the student may find it difficult to simultaneously listen to a description and participate in the chat session. The best solution may be to involve the student in a separate conversation that does not include the whiteboard.
  
  
• Audio/video description. Provide an alternate HTML version of your content. This HTML version should include an audio transcript and all the whiteboard images with appropriate alt text and long descriptions. If possible, you should also create captions for the audio/video files. (To learn more, visit the How To: Audio/Video section of this Web site).
  
  

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