How to Make Course Information Easy to Find and Use

DRAFT - 2026-APR-20 fz

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Instructions, handouts, syllabi, and other short documents that give students information about what they need to be doing for a class should be very easy to find and use. Text information on a web page (such as a page in Canvas) can be opened and read very quickly using a variety of modes. Short texts and logistical information should only be stored away in a .DOC, .PDF or other format if it requires visual organization, relies on features of the software, or is intended to be printed and used on paper.

Quick tips for making course information accessible

• Post urgent, essential, and timely information on the front page of Canvas (or other web site). 
• Write link text that describes the destination, action, or file the link opens. Avoid vague link text like "Click Here". 
• Post details about an assignment (instructions, due dates) on the same page; ideally where students will submit their work. 
• Give names to downloadable files that are clear and easy to recognize when downloaded to someone else's computer. 
• Edit the navigation menu in Canvas so that only the tools students will use are visible. 
• Organize pages using both visual and logical cues (e.g. use H1, H2, H3 for headers, provide alt text with images).

Short Text-Based Instructions - Post on a Web Page (Canvas)

Blocks of text of 500 words or less will fit comfortably on a web page and can be easily accessed via shared links, QR codes, or through site navigation. Canvas makes it easy to collect course information in one place and has built-in access tools such as a text reader. Make texts easy to find in Canvas (or other sites) by labelling navigation links clearly and placing the text where the students will expect to find it (for example, include details about an assignment on the Assignment Page in Canvas where it is submitted.)

Longer logistical texts that can be broken into logical sections are best shared as multiple linked pages on a site, such as a series of pages grouped together in a Canvas Module. This helps students track the sequence, and jump to specific sections as needed.  

[LINK: Canvas Navigation Design tips]  

Long Documents, Visual Layouts, Printable Handouts - Share as Files     

If the document relies on visual organization, printing, or other features that are difficult to replicate on a web page, you may need to share it as a file with students. In this case, choose a file format that students can use, and be sure to properly design the original with accessibility formatting such as paragraph styles (H1, H2, H3), alternative text for images, and proper tagging of elements such as tables.  

TIP: give downloadable files names that will make sense when they are saved  to the other person’s system. Files with cryptic names, acronyms, and personal versioning (e.g. fphandoutFINAL2b.doc) are easily lost. For example, if the document is an academic article, name the file based on the citation (e.g. Merriam2014-AdultLearning-ch01.pdf)

Share the file in its original format if you created the document in a common software platform such as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, or Google Docs—especially if students will be adding comments or using other features to interact with the document. An added benefit of sharing these files in their original formats is that there are accessibility features built into these programs that can address specific access needs.

Consider saving the file as a PDF if the document needs to be printed exactly right, or students need a more universal format (not everyone has access to, or can easily work with, Microsoft Word files). With proper attention to making them accessible, PDFs can be opened on nearly any device, read by screen readers, and adapted for most access needs. 

[LINK : Formatting text for readability] 

Image If you have questions, or need any assistance reviewing or making your course content accessible, we are here to help! Contact us at DigitalLearning [at] umass [dot] edu (DigitalLearning[at]umass[dot]edu).