Learning Environments Learning Management System

Using the LMS with JAWS

Table of contents

A note to JAWS users

This document is a guide to using the Learning Management System (Blackboard Academic Suite Version 7.2) with the JAWS screen reader (Version 8). The LMS is a multilayered environment with multiple interconnections between components. This guide attempts to give vision impaired students with varying degrees of JAWS skills descriptive information to satisfactorily access the essential components of the LMS. Not all components of the LMS are used by all students, nor is there only one set of JAWS commands to log in, identify headings, tabs, tools, links and/or frames. Refer to Section 6 JAWS shortcut keys when working within the LMS for a list of JAWS commands.

Your suggestions for improvements to this guide would be very welcome, please record these at http://www.lms.unimelb.edu.au/resources/suggestions/ or dlu-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au.

If you would like assistance on any matter related to the LMS please contact the IT Service Desk on 8344 0888 or through the online form at http://servicedesk.unimelb.edu.au/itsc/lms/ or contact the Disability Liaison Unit dlu-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au.

What is the LMS?

The Learning Management System (LMS) is an online environment that supports the University's learning and teaching. All subjects have a space in the LMS that can be used to provide information and resources to support students' independent learning and study. The LMS provides a range of interactive tools to facilitate communication, collaborative learning, assessment, and feedback for students. The LMS also provides community sites for nominated groupings of staff and students involved in collaborative activities such as projects, or research, to share resources and to communicate and interact with other community members.

Note: The advice about LMS subjects also applies to communities unless otherwise specified.
In the LMS you will probably find an online space for each subject you are enrolled in this semester, and possibly some communities. You also have access to personal online file storage.

Subject enrolments

Student enrolment details are passed to the LMS several times a day, automatically matching students to subjects, however not all subjects will have an LMS presence and only some students will belong to an LMS community. The subjects and communities you can access in the LMS will vary each semester – usually only current subjects and communities are available, not those from past or future semesters. At the beginning of a new semester you may not be able to access an expected subject because your enrolment is not yet confirmed, or because the subject has not yet been made available to students.
You may also be given access to a subject that you are not officially enrolled in because multiple subjects are being taught together, this is called cohort linking.

Each of the LMS subjects is unique so the location and availability of functions and learning materials may vary from those described here. If you can't find an item that you are expecting to find in your subject, please contact your subject lecturer for advice.

Community enrolments

Community enrolments are managed in several different ways:

'My Content' online file storage

All students and staff are allocated 50 Mb of online file storage in the Content Collection of the LMS. Your personal folder is called 'My Content' and can be accessed via the 'Manage Content' tab in the LMS. You can add, move, copy and remove files and folders within your personal folder.

Getting started

Access points for the LMS

All staff and students access the LMS using the same central IT username and password used for university email. There are several different ways to access the LMS:

Option 1: Access via the LMS web site

Go to the LMS web site at http://www.lms.unimelb.edu.au. This site has a log in link called 'Access the LMS' as well as information about LMS support, resources, news, and a link to an online help form http://servicedesk.unimelb.edu.au/itsc/lms/

As there is a great detail of information on the LMS pages, it is advised that JAWS users put in a temporary place marker at the 'Access the LMS' link making accessing this link much quicker and easier in the future. This temporary place marker will need to be set on each computer you use.
You can set a single temporary place marker for each required page. The temporary Place Marker will be saved to the Place Marker List and remain in place until you remove or re-position the place marker on the specific page.

Option 2: Access via the log in page

You can bypass the information on the LMS web site by going directly to the log in page at https://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/login/

Option 3: Access to the LMS via the Student Portal

The Student Portal lists your subject enrolments on the Home Tab and the Studies Tab. If the subject is available in the LMS this will be displayed as a link that takes you directly into the subject. Once inside a subject you can then navigate around the LMS in the usual way to access other sections. The Student Portal does not have direct links to individual communities, or to subjects to which you are not enrolled, even though you may have LMS access to the subject through cohort linking. Logging into the Student Portal provides direct access to subjects in the LMS without requiring an additional log in.

To access the Student Portal go to http://portal.unimelb.edu.au or go to the University of Melbourne homepage http://www.unimelb.edu.au and follow the 'Current Students' link.

To log in to the Student Portal:

Note: You will automatically begin at the Portal Home tab but JAWS does not recognise the tab name.

Inside the Portal, the header items are Welcome, New, Portal Feedback and Log Out. The Portal has 10 tabs that allow navigation between the different information areas of the portal. The first tab is called Home and contains several modules, for example, 'Email and Library Catalogue' and 'Enrolment Summary. Links to your subjects are listed in the Enrolment Summary module. Press 'N' to move between module headings. Use arrow down to read module content.

You can also access the LMS from the Studies tab. Links to your subjects are listed in the 'Enrolment Details' module. There is also a link to the LMS in the 'Learning Tools' module.

Option 4: Access via direct links to a subject or community

After you have familiarised yourself with the various components of the LMS you may find it more convenient to make shortcuts to each subject or community you use. Each part of the LMS has its own URL so each can be set in your browser as a 'Favourite' (Internet Explorer) or 'Bookmark' (Firefox and Safari). When you use a shortcut to a location deep inside the LMS you will be presented with the log in box if you are not already logged in.

The identification of these URLs and creating direct links can be difficult to manage; a customised list of URLS for each of your subjects or communities can be made on your behalf. Send a list of the links that you need via the online help form http://servicedesk.unimelb.edu.au/itsc/lms/ or to dlu-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

To make a Favourite or Bookmark in your browser:

Logging in to the LMS

Logging out of the LMS

Understanding the layout of pages in the LMS

After you have logged in, there are several links listed in the page header. Some of these links have icons that are hidden and thus are listed again in other parts of the LMS pages. The links are to

At the top of each page are navigation links to various 'tabs' or major areas of the LMS. The tabs presented to students in the LMS are 'My Home', 'Subjects', 'Communities', 'Manage Content', 'Student Resources' and 'Log Out'. Selecting a tab will take you to that area of the LMS. The active tab is listed as heading level 1. The links that follow are the other 'tabs'.

Pressing the letter H key moves the Virtual Cursor to the next heading on the page. For example, if you are on the 'My Home' tab, JAWS will read out 'My Home level 1'. If you continuously press the letter H key, the Virtual Cursor will move to each heading, until you reach the bottom of the Web page. JAWS will then announce 'wrapping to top' as the Virtual Cursor wraps to the top of the Web page and moves to the first heading on the page again.

If there are no headings on the page JAWS will announce 'no more headings found'.

'My Home' - Your personal page within the LMS

Moving around the 'My Home' page

The LMS opens at the 'My Home' tab if you enter via the LMS web site at http://www.lms.unimelb.edu.au  or via the log in box at https://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/login/

Note: This is not the entry point if you entered via the subject deep links in the Student Portal; however you can reach this page by following the link to the 'My Home' tab.

The LMS 'My Home' tab has a series of links at the top of the home page before the contents. Generally these links are repeated at the top of each of the web pages in the LMS. Within the 'My Home' tab there are a number of elements known as modules. These modules are blocks of information that provide links to various parts of the LMS and other resources.

Modules on the 'My Home' page

The following Modules are presented by default to all students.

When you are at the top of the 'My Home' tab and press the letter N key, JAWS reads the level of the heading, together with a welcome message and the account holder name. Pressing the letter N key again will read the items. Note: Depending on how your 'My Home' page has been set up JAWS may not read out some of these items or in the order that they are listed above.

Personalising your 'My Home' page

Some modules are presented to all students; others can be added or removed. By default you will find several modules on the 'My Home' tab.  Many of these can be removed, others are compulsory; all can be reordered so that more frequently used modules are presented first. Some modules can be edited to display more or less information. Each of the modules on your tab, except for the 'Tools' module, can be displayed or minimised or moved to best suit how you use the LMS.

The 'My Home' tab can be customised to show different modules using the 'Modify Content' form, or to show them in different positions on the page using the 'Modify Layout' form. The 'Modify Content' and 'Modify Layout' links are situated immediately after the level 1 heading, the welcome message and the account holder name on the 'My Home' page.

The most efficient way to access either of these links is to

Selecting the modules to appear on 'My Home'

Navigate to the 'Modify Content' link. Once you are on the 'Modify Content' page, pressing the letter H key will take you to numerous headings on this page. Press the letter H key until you reach the heading 'Step 1- select modules level 2'. You can arrow down through the list of all available modules you wish to select to appear on your 'My Home' tab. The list of modules is set out in a table. JAWS will read through the list with the option of checking or unchecking modules before it reads the module name. A brief description is also provided for each module.

Note: some of the module boxes cannot be unchecked from the list. The compulsory modules are 'My Announcements', 'My Communities' and 'My Subjects' and 'Self enrol in a community', they don't have the check or uncheck option before them.
To choose which modules will be included on your 'My Home' tab.

Modifying the layout of 'My Home'

The 'Modify Layout' form cannot be used with JAWS 8. It is currently recommended that if you wish to change the layout of modules on your 'My Home' page, you do this with the support of another person or lodge a request to meet an LMS Consultant via the help desk online form at http://www.lms.unimelb.edu.au/support/helpdesk/ or dlu-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

'My Subjects' module

The 'My Subjects' module contains links to all the subjects that are available to you in the LMS. This module can be edited to show more or less information from the subjects, e.g. announcements, or subject coordinators.

'My Communities' module

The 'My Communities' module contains links to all the communities that are available to you in the LMS. This module can be edited to show more or less information from the communities, e.g. announcements, or community leaders

'My Announcements' module

The 'My Announcements' module lists all announcements from all your subjects and communities. This module can be edited to show announcements from the last 7 days, last 30 days, or all announcements.

'Tools' module

The 'Tools' module cannot be moved or edited. It provides quick links to some tools that you may want to use: Announcements, Calendar, Tasks, View Marks, Address Book, Personal Information, Content Collection, and Search.

Viewing marks within the LMS

The 'Tools' module provides a quick link to the marks for each subject if that facility is available for the particular subject. You may want to see marks or grades you have received for your assignments from your enrolled subjects.
To use the 'View Marks' link within the 'Tools' module:

A table with the details of all available assessments and grades is displayed here. JAWS should take you straight to the table on that page. If you are not at the table, pressing the letter T key takes you to the table; JAWS will announce the caption and the number of rows and columns depending on the size of the table.

JAWS will read out such information as test/assignment due date, when it was submitted, the grade, how many points were assigned to each task, the class average grade and the weight of the grade. It will also give you a running total of your results.

As the JAWS Virtual Cursor moves through the table, it does not identify column or row headings. Therefore it may be necessary to receive column or row heading information, when in other cells within the table. Furthermore, when moving the Virtual Cursor through a table JAWS reads the cells in order from left to right and behaves as if each cell begins on a new line.

The following keystrokes when used will move to the appropriate cell and read the cell contents including the column or row number. JAWS will also announce any column or row headings when these keystrokes are used.

Following the table/s, there is a link labelled 'OK'. ENTER on this link to return to your list of subjects.

You can now check results for other subjects by entering on the link of the selected subject. If you want to return to your 'My Home' tab without viewing any other subject results, ENTER on the OK link located after the subject links. You will return to your 'My Home' tab.

Subjects and Communities in the LMS

Entering a subject or community

To select the 'Subjects' Tab

The headings are

Navigate to the 'Subject List' heading

To select the 'Communities' Tab

The headings are:

Navigate to the 'My Communities' Heading

Inside a Subject or Community

Subject and community spaces are developed by staff teaching the subject. There are many options and few prescribed elements so you can expect considerable variation in the content and organisation of these spaces. Menu items differ between faculties and subjects according to their different educational approaches and contexts. Furthermore, the layout of each page may also vary greatly. If you can't find an item that you are expecting to find in your subject, please contact your subject lecturer for advice.

Navigation around the subject is via the links on the menu, then the links on each page. Alternatively you can use the 'bread crumb' navigation trail (Heading Level 2) that appears at the top of each page to navigate through the LMS. This can be very useful when you are deep within content pages and want to navigate back to a higher level.

Once you have entered on the chosen subject:

Finding and joining Communities in the LMS

The 'Communities' tab is one of the navigation links at the top of each page. A list of all communities that you are currently participating in will be listed in the 'My Communities' module on the 'Communities' tab. Note: This module also appears on the 'My Home' tab.

Communities are a great way to discuss and network with those of similar interests, both within your field of study and the broader student community. Some communities will be open to join, while others are limited to specific interest groups. If a community is open to join, it will have an 'Enrol' button next to it in the list of community search results. Press ENTER on the 'Enrol' button to join.

Note: As of October 2008, the Academic Skills Unit Community is the only community to allow self enrolment. Contact the Community Leaders listed in the catalogue if you wish to join any other community.

'Student Resources' tab

The 'Student Resources' tab is one of the navigation links at the top of each page.

This tab contains a list of links to some student resources on the University of Melbourne web site.

To select the 'Student Resources' tab

Note: This is the only heading identified on this page.

The most successful way to navigate through this page highlighting items is to use the arrow key. Once you are familiar with this page use INSERT+F7 key to bring up a list of links located on this page.

JAWS shortcut keys

The list of JAWS short cut keys below are not specific to the LMS, they are universal in navigating the Internet and within web pages. You may find some shortcut keys below which better suit your own knowledge and skills when working within web pages.

Web page navigation

Web page quick navigation keys

Note: The SHIFT key used in combination with any of the above commands moves the Virtual Cursor to the previous occurrence of the particular element.

 

For students experiencing disability, some aspects of the LMS may present access difficulties. If you need any assistance or advice about using the LMS, or would like to book a consultation about your LMS subject please contact the Disability Liaison Unit at dlu-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

 

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