Designing for Users: Did You Know You're Also a Web Designer?

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Did you know that your online course is actually an intricate website? That's right! When you started building your online course, you became a website designer! As you design your course, keep usability and accessibility in mind. They actually go hand-in-hand. 

 

Usability is the idea that websites should be designed so they are easy to use. This means taking into consideration the purpose of the site (in this case, learning), the needs and abilities of the users, and the variety of devices that the website may be accessed from (such as mobile phones and tablets, as well as computers). 

In essence, you want a course that is easy to navigate, and pages that are easy to read.

• POUR Principles Outline View
• POUR Principles Infographic Image

 

An important component of usability is accessibility. Accessibility focuses on designing for the full-range of users in our classes, including students with cognitive differences, vision and hearing impairments, and mobility issues. 

These design principles are so important, that they have been legally codified. According to federal law, our instructional websites need to meet specific standards for accessibility. The standard currently set is to ensure your course meets WCAG 2.0 Level AA Links to an external site. requirements. 

Don't panic! We have resources to help you figure out exactly what this means for you, and, best of all, there are several Canvas tools that help you meet these standards effortlessly.