ITQ for accessible IT practice Xerte Software

Overview Why Xerte?

What not to do

What to know Xerte online toolkits create resources with a high degree of accessibility. Not all page types are equally accessible due to technical constraints: Colour changes do not affect sub pages. Keyboard accessible drag and drop does not work in the draggable gap fill exercise. Text to speech doesn’t fully work for the drag and drop activities. So, where you have learners with known access issues check which page type interactions you should use with them.

Xerte Online Toolkits login area

Xerte in practice 1: Differentiation An IT training example where the focus is on creating a resource with a range of differentiation opportunities to suit different skill levels amongst the trainee teaching staff.

Xerte in practice 2: Text-to-speech A simple example to demonstrate to learning support staff how Xerte may be used to support independence training for people with learning difficulties and very low literacy. In this case the text-to-speech option is an important element.

Xerte in practice 3: Strong visuals A learning object illustrating different ways of using images in Xerte with both good practice and (occasional) bad practice illustrated.

Xerte in practice 4: Strong audio A learning object illustrating different ways of using audio in Xerte with both good practice and (occasional) bad practice illustrated.

Xerte in practice 5: Science focus Object supporting teachers in creating inclusive lab practicals in the Physical Sciences.

Xerte in practice 6: Humanities focus Module from 2nd year degree level History course.

Xerte in practice 7: Hairdressing Engaging hairdressing students in e-learning. Introducing ‘dry’ topics like legislation in an interactive way (from Kingston College).

Xerte in practice 8: Library focus Illustrates how Xerte could be used in tutorial format for library users.

Xerte in practice 9: Learner orientation Introduction for new learners to the learning resource centres at New College Worcester. Each slide has audio commentary built in.

Xerte in practice 10: BSL The inbuilt synchronised video option offers real benefits to BSL users.

Activity Explore the following links and for each one look at the templates being used and identify which would have more accessibility issues than others. college.ac.uk/play.php?template_id=433http://xerte.kingston- college.ac.uk/play.php?template_id= worcs.ac.uk/xerte/play.php?template_id=209 template_id=80http://mitchellmedia.co.uk/moodle/xertetoolkits/play.php? template_id=80.

Links JISC Techdis Xerte Friday online sessions JISC Techdis Xerte Sandbox Getting Started guides at RSC, Eastern and MAXOS development eastern.ac.uk/Technical/Maxos/Pages/default.aspx. eastern.ac.uk/Technical/Maxos/Pages/default.aspx Mitchell Media YouTube Xerte guides Case Study Gloucestershire County Council

ITQ evidence Level 2 Create 2 or 3 Xerte objects using the following templates: Text, such as Title, Bullets, Summary. Media, such as Graphics and Sound, Audio Slideshow, Jing. Navigators, such as Column, Tabbed, Accordion. Charts. Interactive. Miscellaneous, such as YouTube. Create a reflective statement talking about the following: Planning how to produce the Xerte objects. Different elements needed in the objects. Where you found images / sounds/ videos; copyright / permission to use. Explain the stages of Xerte objects from creation to completion; how you tested for fit for purpose.

ITQ evidence Level 3 As for level 2 plus create 2 or 3 Xerte objects using more advanced templates: for example video, synched video, Google Maps, Delicious feed, and RSS feeds. Create a reflective statement talking about the following: Planning how to produce the Xerte objects. What different elements were needed in the objects. Where you found images / sounds / videos and refer to copyright and permission to use. Explain the stages, from creation to completion, of the Xerte objects, how you tested for fit for purpose and reaction of IT user.