Color, like images, can add visual appeal to your pages, heighten the level of professionalism, and provide focus for important information. In order for color to work, however, it needs to be perceivable. Poor color choices can affect students with low-vision, or students who are color blind.
Common Mistakes
Using color can interfere with learning when the color contrast--the difference in color between the background and the text or image--is not sufficient. All sighted users suffer when color contrast is not high, but this can be especially difficult for users with low-vision.
Color can also be an issue when it alone is used to convey information. Color blindness is a common condition involving the color-sensing cells in the retina. There are many types of color blindness. This chart will give you a sense of what your students may see:
When possible, use the default settings for text colors. If you are using custom colors for headings or other textual markers, check the contrast via a free online color contrast tool. In order to test your colors, you will need to know the hex codeLinks to an external site. of the colors you are using. Some recommended color contrast tools are:
Avoid using color as the sole means of providing information. For instance, the following chart may not be accessible to a user who is color blind, and the color contrast is not high enough for all of the colored text:
All green items are due on Mondays, orange on Wednesdays, and red on Fridays.
Assignment Due Dates
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Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion
Quiz
Quiz
Final Project
Color, when used wisely, can add to the learning experience, but color contrast should always be kept in mind, and color should never be used as the sole medium for conveying information. Instead, use redundant channels for providing information, such as both shape and color:
Items marked with a green triangle are due on Mondays, with a blue circle are due on Wednesdays, and a red square due on Fridays.
Assignment Due Dates
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Discussion
Quiz
Final Project
When to use numbers
If your items are a sequence, steps to instructions, or an essential part of a whole (such as, "there are four things you need to know to complete this assignment"), use a numbered list. For instance, consider these sequenced instructions for creating a list:
Select the numbered list icon from the editing bar.
Enter the first step in your sequence, then select Return.
Enter the next step in your sequence, then select Return.
Continue entering steps until the instructions are completed.
De-select the numbered list icon in the editing bar--your cursor will snap back to the left margin, ending your numbered list.
When a screen reader encounters a properly formatted numbered list, this is what it sees:
<ol> <li>select the numbered list icon from the editing bar</li> <li>enter the first step in your sequence, then select Return</li> <li>enter the next step in your sequence, select Return</li> <li>continue entering steps until the instructions are completed</li> <li>de-select the numbered list icon in the editing bar--your cursor will snap back to the left margin, ending your numbered list</li> </ol>
Again, the screenreader notes the beginning and end of the list, helping the user keep track of where they are.
