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Re: Links open in new tab or window in LMS

for

From: Joe Humbert
Date: Oct 5, 2018 7:56AM


Hi Krista,

I think it really depends on how the "opens in a new window" information is conveyed to all users. If there is no indication to a sighted user, I think you have to answer your questions from a usability perspective instead of an accessibility one.

Users can control this using browser settings (at least in Firefox for sure, ref: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser.link.open_newwindow, http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction)

I'm not sure you are going to get a consensus here, but I maybe wrong. 😊

Joe Humbert
I do somethings in the accessibility field

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Krista Greear
Sent: Friday, October 5, 2018 9:34 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: [WebAIM] Links open in new tab or window in LMS

Looking for best practices about how to communicate links that open in new tab or window within the LMS environment. I read the info on WebAIM Hypertext <https://webaim.org/techniques/hypertext/> page but still have some questions.

What is the best way to let the students know that links open in a new tab or window?

- Should this information be communicated in the syllabus or LMS
instructions?
- Should there be a blanket statement at the beginning of each module?
- Should there be (link opens in new window) directly inline after each
link?
- If there is a link in the middle of the sentence, does that change
what we should do?
- If there is a need to open some links in a new tab vs a new window, it
is okay to mix the two? Or should it always be consistent?


Thanks in advance,
Krista

--
Krista Greear
Accessibility and Inclusivity Crusader