Creating accessible quizzes requires clear instructions, thoughtful question design, and adherence to accessibility best practices to ensure equitable participation for all learners, including those using assistive technologies. Ambiguous directions and inaccessible formats can create barriers for students with cognitive, visual, or motor impairments.
Provide Clear Instructions
Provide clear instructions to ensure all students, including those who use assistive technologies, can navigate and complete the quiz. Ambiguous directions can create barriers for learners with cognitive disabilities or those who rely on screen readers.
Rationale
- Reduce confusion and anxiety among students who require additional time to process.
- Help screen reader users by giving context before they encounter interactive elements.
- Support equitable access by clarifying expectations.
Examples
- Start of the quiz: Include a statement like: "This quiz contains 20 multiple-choice questions. You have 30 minutes to complete it."
- Timed quizzes: "You have 45 minutes to complete this quiz. If you have an accommodation for an extended time, it has already been applied."
- Multiple-answer questions: "Select all that apply. There may be more than one correct answer."
- Fill-in-the-blank: "Type your answer in the blank provided. Do not include punctuation."
Question Types
Classic Quizzes generally avoid question types that pose accessibility challenges, which are present in New Quizzes and often problematic for screen readers and keyboard navigation.
Question Types with Accessibility Considerations
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Multiple Choice: No special considerations beyond clear question wording.
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True/False: No special considerations beyond clear question wording.
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Multiple Answer: Clearly indicate “Select all that apply” in the question text.
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Fill-in-the-Blank: Use placeholders like [blank] instead of underscores.
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Fill-in-Multiple-Blanks: Label each blank clearly and provide instructions such as “Answer each blank separately.”
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Multiple Drop-down: Avoid if possible. If used, ensure that each dropdown includes a descriptive label and provides clear instructions (e.g., “Select the correct term for each definition”). Each dropdown should be preceded by meaningful text so users know what they’re selecting.
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Matching: Include clear instructions like “Match each term to its definition using the dropdown menus.”
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Numerical Answer: Provide clear format instructions (e.g., “Enter the number only, no units.”).
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Formula: Use Canvas’s built-in Equation Editor for math content to ensure proper accessibility.
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Essay: Provide a descriptive prompt and clear expectations for length or format.
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File Upload: Include instructions on file types and naming conventions.
Question Types to Avoid
- Categorization: Avoid if possible. This requires drag-and-drop actions, which are not keyboard accessible. If categorization is necessary, provide an alternative format such as multiple-choice or matching.
- Ordering: Avoid if possible. Dragging movements are problematic for users with motor impairments and screen readers. Offer a text-based alternative (e.g., numbered input fields) instead.
- Hot Spot: Avoid entirely. Screen readers cannot interpret clickable regions on images, and keyboard navigation is not supported. Provide a descriptive text-based alternative for identifying locations or features.
Accommodate Time Limit Needs
Apply extended time or additional attempts through the Moderate Quiz tool.
Review Content for General Accessibility
Refer to the Canvas Tools for Accessibility guide for more information.
Add Alt Text and Long Descriptions for Images
- Alt Text: Use for simple images that convey essential information (e.g., icons, basic diagrams). Keep descriptions concise and meaningful. Canvas recommends a character limit of about 120 characters for alt text to ensure compatibility with screen readers.
- Long Description: Use when an image contains complex information (e.g., charts, graphs, detailed diagrams). Provide a text alternative in the question body or link to a separate page with the full description.
- Avoid generic phrases like 'image' or 'graphic.' Instead, describe the purpose or content clearly.
- Use the Image Accessibility Creator to create long or alternate text.
Present Data as Tables, Not Images
Use tables instead of images to ensure data is accessible to screen readers and can be navigated logically.
Rationale
- Screen readers interpret tables with headers, allowing users to understand relationships between data points.
- Images of data cannot be read by assistive technology unless accompanied by a detailed description.
- If you cannot convert the data into a table, provide a detailed, long description.
Use Accessibility Checker and Ensure Color Contrast & Proper Headings
- Run the built-in Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor to identify issues like missing alt text, improper headings, and color contrast problems.
- Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning. Use strong contrast and logical heading levels.
Resources
- Illinois State University: Building Accessible Quizzes in Canvas
- University of Colorado OIT: Creating Accessible Quizzes
- Cornell CTI: Quizzes Accessibility Guide
- Colorado & Mines Guides: Create Accessible Quizzes in Canvas