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Thread: Moodle, LAMS, SCORM and Accessibility
Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)
From: John E. Brandt
Date: Sun, Jul 16 2006 2:20PM
Subject: Moodle, LAMS, SCORM and Accessibility
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I am on a fast-track learning about the latest version of Moodle (v1.6). In
this new version there are now two new types of Course Formats that can be
used when setting up courses.
The first one is based on the use of LAMS - Learning Activity Management
System, an authoring tool/environment developed by LAMS International
http://www.lamsinternational.com/
The second new course format option allows for the use of SCORM - Sharable
Content Object Reference Model a set of standards developed by the US
government for the purpose of providing "a comprehensive suite of e-learning
capabilities that enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of
Web-based learning content." FMI see http://www.adlnet.gov/scorm/index.cfm
For the SCORM format, it is rather clear this method has accessibility in
mind. I'm not so sure about LAMS.
Does anyone with familiarity with these care to comment?
~j
John E. Brandt
Augusta, Maine USA
www.jebswebs.com
From: Paul R. Bohman
Date: Mon, Jul 17 2006 8:20AM
Subject: Re: Moodle, LAMS, SCORM and Accessibility
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John E. Brandt wrote:
> The first one is based on the use of LAMS - Learning Activity Management
> System, an authoring tool/environment developed by LAMS International
> http://www.lamsinternational.com/ ...
> Does anyone with familiarity with these care to comment?
I was just at the EDMEDIA conference a couple of weeks ago, where James
Dalziel -- the originator of LAMS -- gave a keynote address about LAMS.
I spoke to him afterward and brought up the topic of accessibility. We
didn't speak in great detail, but my impression is that they like the
idea of accessibility, and have looked into it some, but not in a
systematic way.
The authoring side is Flash-based. I have not evaluated it for
accessibility. Judging by the HTML that the site uses (straightforward
but not standards-compliant; no form labels), I'd say they probably
haven't made the Flash accessible to screen reader users, but that's
only a guess. Someone would have to test it with a screen reader. Part
of the challenge will be that the authoring tool is conceptually very
visual. There is a lot of drag-and-drop, visual manipulation of
information, etc. It would be difficult to adapt it to non-visual forms
of interaction, and may in the end require an alternative interface, or
at least some creative keyboard shortcuts.
For the record, I'm not opposed to this type of visual interaction. I
think it can be very effective for visual users and can be great for
some types of cognitive disabilities. The downside is that this type of
interaction is not easy to make accessible to non-visual audiences.
The student side is simpler, and would be easier to make accessible than
the authoring side.
--
Paul R. Bohman
Technology Coordinator
Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities (www.kihd.gmu.edu)
George Mason University (www.gmu.edu)
From: Shane Anderson
Date: Mon, Jul 17 2006 3:50PM
Subject: Re: Moodle, LAMS, SCORM and Accessibility
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> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "John E. Brandt" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: "'WebAIM Discussion List'" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 16:15:57 -0400
> Subject: [WebAIM] Moodle, LAMS, SCORM and Accessibility
> I am on a fast-track learning about the latest version of Moodle (v1.6).
> In
> this new version there are now two new types of Course Formats that can be
> used when setting up courses.
>
> The first one is based on the use of LAMS - Learning Activity Management
> System, an authoring tool/environment developed by LAMS International
> http://www.lamsinternational.com/
>
> The second new course format option allows for the use of SCORM - Sharable
> Content Object Reference Model a set of standards developed by the US
> government for the purpose of providing "a comprehensive suite of
> e-learning
> capabilities that enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability
> of
> Web-based learning content." FMI see http://www.adlnet.gov/scorm/index.cfm
>
> For the SCORM format, it is rather clear this method has accessibility in
> mind. I'm not so sure about LAMS.
>
> Does anyone with familiarity with these care to comment?
Unfortunately, it is not clear with SCORM. When the term "accessibility" is
used in conjunction with SCORM they are referring to "The ability to locate
learning content in multiple locations and to deliver it to multiple
locations." Accessibility to persons with disability is not addressed in the
SCORM specifications.
Shane Anderson
WebAIM.org
From: John E. Brandt
Date: Mon, Jul 17 2006 4:00PM
Subject: RE: Moodle, LAMS, SCORM and Accessibility
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Wow!....I guess they have not heard about Section 508.
I can think of lots of sarcastic comments to make here, but will bite my
tongue...
~j
John E. Brandt
Augusta, Maine USA
www.jebswebs.com
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Shane Anderson
<clip>
Unfortunately, it is not clear with SCORM. When the term "accessibility" is
used in conjunction with SCORM they are referring to "The ability to locate
learning content in multiple locations and to deliver it to multiple
locations." Accessibility to persons with disability is not addressed in the
SCORM specifications.
Shane Anderson
WebAIM.org
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