Instructional Materials
Welcome to the Instructional Materials section where you will find accessibility guides and resources to help make your learning environment everything you want, for everyone. Contact the ACCESS Support Team if you need assistance by completing the Support Request Form online or by emailing us at access@sfsu.edu.
Background
In order to provide all students with a barrier-free education, and to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and with California Government Code 11135, San Francisco State must make its instructional materials including online course materials accessible to persons with disabilities.
By 2012 all instructional materials will be made accessible as outlined in the Chancellor's Office Coded Memorandum (pdf) .
Note: The PDF, Word and Excel documents referenced in the following sections can be viewed by downloading the programs from the links listed below..
Download the free Acrobat Reader
Course Accessibility Checklist
Below is a checklist to help instructors and other developers evaluate quickly whether the requirements of the CSU Accessible Technology Initiative have been successfully addressed.
View the Course Accessibility Checklist as a PDF document.
Print Materials
1. Textbooks and course readers
- Did I submit my textbook adoption request to the Bookstore before the deadlines? See the Bookstore submissions web page to place orders. (See the Academic Senate's Policy on Timely Adoption of Textbooks for further details.)
- Did I submit my set of course reader materials in a clean, readable format to the Bookstore for copying? See Photocopy Guidelines.
2. Syllabi and Handouts
- Did I create my syllabus in an accessible format?
- Did I use appropriate formatting so that students using assistive technology, such as text-to-speech software, can effectively access the information?
- Do my Word documents pass the grade according to the Word Accessibility Checklist ?
- How to Create an Accessible Word document
- Do my PDF documents pass the grade according to the PDF Accessibility Checklist ?
- How to Create an Accessible PDF document
- Did I include the Disability Statement in my syllabus as worded in the Academic Senate's Syllabus Disability Statement Policy?
- An Accessible Syllabus Tool has been developed for the University by Academic Tecnology. This tool will help you create a syllabus that can be shared and published in several accessible formats. For more information and to start using this tool, visit the Syllabus Tool website.
3. Electronic Reserve
- Did I submit my course reserve materials in a clean, readable format to the Library?
- Visit the Library's online Electronic Reserve Forms.
4. PowerPoint
- Do my PowerPoint documents pass the grade according to the PowerPoint Accessibility Checklist ?
- How to Create an Accessible PowerPoint document
Nonprint Materials
5. VHS/DVD
- Are the video presentations (DVDs, video tapes, video podcasts, other video formats) available with either closed or opencaptioning?
- If not, is a transcript of the video presentation available?
- If not, do I have a plan so that all students can have access to the same information?
- Identifying Captioning Needs
- Caption Request Form
- AT Media Catalog
6. Internet Resources
- Are the Internet resources (e.g. websites, blogs, wikis, etc) that I plan to use in class accessible for students? One way to check is by using the manual web assessment procedure. Note that not all 3rd party online learning systems are accessible.
- If the Internet resources are not accessible, do I have a plan to make these resources available in an alternative format so that all students can have access to the same information?
- Contact the ACCESS Support Team to discuss strategies.
- Captioning Web Videos Process (AutoSync, QT steps)
7. Course Streaming / Podcasting
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CourseStream is an automated lecture capture technology that records instructors' lectures including video, audio, desktop activity, software demonstrations, document camera projections, and more. Captioning is provided for students registered with DPRC.
- Are the audio presentations (CDs, audio podcasts, audio clips, other audio formats) available with a transcript?
- If not, do I have a plan to make these audio presentations available in an alternative format so that all students have access to the same information?
- Additional accessibility considerations are available on the Academic Technology website
8. iLearn / Learning Management Systems
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iLearn is SF State's official learning management system. Instructors manage some or all of their course resources and activities online including syllabi and downloadable handouts, such as PowerPoint lecture files, multimedia, discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, DIVA and CourseStream resources.
- Do the instructional materials in my course meet the Course Accessibility Checklist recommendations (Items 1 to 7 above)?
- Does my iLearn course layout use the guidelines listed on the iLearn Accessibility page?
- Do I use clear naming conventions throughout my iLearn course as recommended on the iLearn Accessibility page?
- If students are required to participate in peer editing activities, are the files they are sharing with one another accessible?
- Do I have a training plan or self-help resources for them if necessary?
- If a student requires extended time to take a quiz or needs a quiz in another format, do I have a plan to make these accommodations? To contact the Online Teaching and Learning Support Team, email ilearn@sfsu.edu or call 415-405-3536.
Other Materials
What other types of materials are you creating that aren't covered on this site? Contact the ACCESS Support Team if you need assistance by completing the Support Request Form online or by emailing us at access@sfsu.edu.
Alternatively, browse the Training pages for potential solutions.
