HTML Formatting

By HTML formatting we mean establishing clear roles and hierarchy for the content in the course; i.e. using headers, lists, paragraphs, and tables to appropriately 'label' content.

This can seem intimidating at first but luckily Blackboard provides all the tools we need right in the editor. Near the top left of the editor you can choose the 'role' of a section of text by picking it from the drop down menu. Here are some of the options you can choose from:

• Heading should be used for the most prominent and important information, often a title of the entire section
• Sub Heading 1 can be used to label subsections
• Sub Heading 2, similar to above, can be used to label sections within Sub Heading 1 sections
• Paragraph is for all other regular text and will make up the bulk of your text content

In addition to the options above, you should create tables using the Blackboard table editor and use the editor list functionality to implement any lists.

Properly formatted content is more accessible because assistive technology relies on HTML tags in order to help give meaning to the structure of the text. Without these roles, all text, regardless of how it is styled, will be read the same and be given the same importance by a screen-reader. Additionally, Blackboard automatically applies styling to these items, such as bold and larger sizes for headers and indentation for lists.

For SUNY Online in particular, it is important that these roles are appropriately used and that there is consistency within and among courses. Look to the pre-existing module template items to get an idea of how things should be structured. For instance, all courses should have the same layout for their module Readings and Resources items which include proper Headers and lists.

Tips

• Consider the overall structure and organization of the section.
• Avoid skipping header levels when possible. Start at Header and work your way down as needed.

View the following videos for more information on how to implement headers and lists in Blackboard. Visit the Table Accessibility page for more information about creating tables in Blackboard. Additionally, please consult with your campus ID and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Note that while the general concepts will remain true, the specific layout, names, etc. of the template shown in the video are subject to change.