The very first question that you want to ask yourself is, "Why am I using PowerPoint files in my vista course?" Power Point is typically used for in-person presentations. Think of what you normally do with a Microsoft [MS] PowerPoint presentation. You tend to talk throughout your presentation. Without your voice, the PowerPoint presentation contains approximately 50% or less of the content. Consequently, you are not going to meet the same learning objectives with the missing, relevant content. In any case, there are a few alternatives to delivering the same content, so that it is accessible to ALL students.
Providing MS PowerPoint Files for Students to Download
- Access requires students to have the Microsoft PowerPoint Application or browser plug-in [if available for their browser].
- Plug-in installed automatically in recent version of Internet Explorer.
- Plug-in is not available to MAC users.
- Plug-in is not accessible to screen reader users.
- Simple slides with heading and bulleted items tend to be accessible to users with disabilities [including screen readers].
- Accessibility decreases for slides with graphics, animations, audio, tables, and charts.
Using Built-in Web Publishing Feature to Create MS PowerPoint HTML Slide Show
- The HTML Files are formatted with extensive Microsoft proprietary markup that screen readers do not read correctly.
- Screen readers also have a lot of trouble navigating the frames interface.
- The Presentation does not always work in non-Microsoft Browsers.
Alternatives for Delivering MS PowerPoint Online
- Make your own HTML file by using the outline from your PowerPoint file. See Converting PowerPoint Files to HTML tutorial.
- If your slide show is heavy on graphics, then work with our Creative Design Group team to learn create a Flash Slide Show that is accessible.
- Use the Virtual 508.com Accessible Web Publishing Wizard for Microsoft Office. This free tool, developed at the University of Illinois, attempts to convert PowerPoint, Excel, and Word documents into valid and accessible HTML.
- Don't use PowerPoint. Instead, use HTML-native slide generation programs, such as the World Wide Web Consortium's Slidemaker or HTML Slidy, or Philip Greenspun's WimpyPoint.
