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Navigating Elearning Content using JAWS

  • Updated

Introduction to navigating Elearning content with the JAWS screen reader

The following is a guide on how to navigate through Elearning online course content and materials provided by your instructor. To begin, first, navigate to the home page and then to the content page.

Understanding that Elearning is separated virtually into 2 main regions and that the number of regions on a page can vary depending on what page the user is on. To navigate by regions, press R.

  1. The Navigation Region, containing buttons and links that will take you to various areas of Elearning.
  2. The Main Region, where the bulk of the content will be displayed. 

Many facets of Elearning function as links. As such, a common route of navigating Elearning is by using the Links List Dialog keystroke command, Insert+F7.

Begin at the MY HOME page.

  1. Press Insert+F7 to bring up the links list dialog.
  2. Use the Down Arrow to navigate to the correct course, listed here as a link. Alternatively, you can press the first letter of the desired course.
  3. Press Enter to go to COURSE HOME.

From the COURSE HOME page:

  1. Press Insert+F7 to bring up the links list dialog.
  2. Press C to navigate to CONTENT.
  3. Press ENTER to move to the CONTENT page.

Understanding the CONTENT Page:

  • Elearning presents learning materials in the structure of "MODULES" think of these like a chapter.
  • The Modules contain "CONTENT" and the content equals links and topics.
  • Content is presented in a LIST.

There are several different types of content that instructors utilize, ranging from internal materials, like HTML files (HTML content created in Elearning), mp4 videos, PowerPoints, quizzes, discussions, dropbox assignments, etc., to outside materials, such as links to websites, videos, and even online textbook assignments. 

Proceed to the desired module.

  1. Press Insert+F7 to bring up the links list dialog.
  2. Use the Down Arrow to navigate to the desired module. Note: Depending on your instructor, modules may or may not have a uniform naming structure.
  3. Alternatively, press the first letter of the desired module.
  4. Press ENTER to load that module.

Once in the MODULE:

  1. Press R to navigate to the MAIN REGION.
  2. Press H to the CONTENT heading. This heading will announce information on the module, for example, the starting/ending dates, progress information.
  3. Press H for the Module Topics. This heading will also announce the number of topics (content/links), for example, "heading level 2, module 1 topics, list of 22 topics."
  4. Press the Down Arrow to find the desired topic.
  5. Press Enter to load the content page.

From the TOPIC page:

Tip: The content in the topic is displayed in a web frame on the page. Some users may find this cumbersome. To view the content in a separate window, void of all Elearning buttons and links, press Insert+Control+B for the buttons list, and search for the "View Content in New Window" button.

  1. Press H to move to the topic heading.
  2. Press Down Arrow to read the topic.

To proceed to the next TOPIC in the MODULE:

  • Press B for the NEXT PAGE button.

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