[Athen] [EXTERNAL] - Using Pearson's MyLab IT with a screen reader

[Russell Solowoniuk]

Hi Doug,

Yes, once I get into "Applications" mode, I can navigate the cells using the arrow keys, and JAWS announces which cell I am in, so that's not an issue. Also, I just read a bit of the Excel textbook being used in the course within MyLab IT, and was pleasantly surprised at the accessibility of the textbook. The figures have alt text, and also a "long Description" link which gives a really great description of the figure, so that's quite promising.

Thanks for your response. I agree that they should allow the task to be completed in whatever way it can be.

Cheers,

Russell

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Hayman, Douglass
Sent: Friday, October 1, 2021 2:36 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] [EXTERNAL] - Using Pearson's MyLab IT with a screen reader

EXTERNAL:  Use caution.<https://myportal.macewan.ca/help.html#external-email>

Russell,

Sounds like an access fail on the part of Pearson.  The simulation sounds like it expects vision from the user and for the user to physically to move a mouse cursor. I imagine that if there are keyboard commands for the same task in the real Excel using JAWS, that those wouldn't work in their simulation environment.  Something like the simple Control plus C to copy then Control plus C to paste should be an acceptable submission when being tested for that kind of function/skill.  A simulation that only allows for getting to that target, or getting focus on the targe with a mouse is a mess.  Will the simulation allow for keyboard only navigation to  cell B10?

Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
dhayman at olympic.edu<mailto:dhayman at olympic.edu>
(360) 475-7632 (currently working remotely and don't have access to this phone)



From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Russell Solowoniuk
Sent: Friday, October 1, 2021 1:20 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - [Athen] Using Pearson's MyLab IT with a screen reader

CAUTION: This email came from a non-OC system or external source. Beware of phishing and social engineering!

Hi everyone,

I'm doing some testing with JAWS 2021 in a course in Moodle where the instructor is using Pearson's MyLab IT for part of the course. It's a course on learning Office 365, and there are simulations where students must complete tasks in the various Office apps.

I'm attempting an Excel simulation, and one of the questions has us type 101 in cell B5, and then using the fill handle, copy that number down to cell B10. In the desktop version of Excel, I would type 101 in B5, and then select cells B5 to B10, and press CTRL + D to fill down. This keyboard shortcut doesn't work in the simulation, so instead, I turned on the JAWS cursor, found the Home tab, clicked it, and then arrowed down to "Fill" clicked on that with the JAWS cursor, and then arrowed down to "Down" and clicked on that, and received an error message. The simulation allows you 10 attempts after which it gives you audible instructions which start with "Double-click the fill handle". At this point I can't go any further. The reason I had to use the JAWS cursor is because pressing the Alt key doesn't bring up the Ribbon Bar like it does in the desktop version of Excel.

Has anyone had any luck using MyLab IT with a screen reader? Are there any shortcut keys that work in this environment? Any tips or suggestions you all might have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, and have a great weekend,

Russell

Russell Solowoniuk
AT Educational Assistant, Access and Disability Resources
MacEwan University
7-164K, 10700-104 Ave.
Edmonton, AB  T5J 4S2
E: solowoniukr at macewan.ca<mailto:solowoniukr at macewan.ca>
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