Using Lectopia with JAWS
What is Lectopia?
Lectopia is the name of University's centrally supported lecture recording system. Links will be made from the LMS to any recordings that exist for your subject. Not all lectures are recorded, check with your coordinator to confirm details.
The Lectopia recordings will consist of audio and possibly screen capture. Some Lectopia recordings are streamed and must be played using Quicktime software, others are presented as .mp3 files that can be downloaded and played using various media players.
Some LMS links open to a single recording, others may open to a list of recordings.
Advice about using Lectopia is available from http://www.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/tss/lectopia/oca.html
The instructions in this guide will describe the process needed to locate and access Lectopia recordings within a content page of your LMS subject.
1.1. Navigating to Lectopia recordings
If you are new to the LMS, the most effective method of familiarising yourself with the layout of any subject page is to arrow through it. The methods below provide shortcuts for people familiar with their LMS subject.
Once you are inside your LMS subject
- INSERT+F7, this brings up a list of links on that page
- Arrow down until you reach the link that contains your Lectopia recordings
- ENTER to activate this link
You are now in the subject area where the Lectopia recordings are located. Exactly where you are varies depending on the page. You need to position yourself at the top of this area to navigate successfully to the Lectopia recording.
- Press the letter H key
- JAWS will read the name of the Lectopia recording followed by 'level heading 1'
You are now situated in the section of the LMS subject page where the Lectopia recordings (and maybe other items) will appear.
- Arrow down through this page viewing the titles of available Lectopia recordings
- Within LMS content pages each item has:
- Graphic
- Lectopia Recording Link including its description e.g. title
- Note: There can be numerous items on the page. Each Lectopia item may link to a single recording or a series of recordings.
- JAWS will read 'subject content frame frame end' when you have reached the end.
1.2. Following a Lectopia link
- To open a Lectopia recording link using the following steps.
- Arrow down to the Lectopia recording you wish to access
- ENTER to activate this option
This will open the Lectopia recording screen for the single recording or the series of recordings you have selected.
1.3. Lectopia Recording page layout
After following the Lectopia link you will be presented with information about this recording/series.
- Press the letter H key to read the first heading
- The title of the lecture series
- Arrow down to familiarise yourself with the page
- Information on the page may include:
- JAWS will read 'Showing items X through Y of Z'. This states the number of recordings available via this Lectopia link and where you are in that list
- Date and time the first lecture was recorded
- Duration of recording
- Number of hits
- Topic and speaker
- QuickTime (Streaming option)
- Media and Slides / Files (Download options)
Whether the Streaming and / or Download options appear is up to the lecturer. Some lecturers only allow streaming in order to protect their Intellectual Property (IP).
Note: If another recording is available it will appear below the first and will start with date and time information.
1.3.1. Quickly move to a recording that appears further down in the list
- Press the letter H key to read the headings on the page only
This will read out dates or recordings and Quicktime/media/slide links only.
When there are no other headings, JAWS will read out 'wrapping to top' and the cursor will go to the first heading at the top of the page.
1.4. Listening to a Lectopia recording online
If the Streaming option is available you will be able to listen to the recording online.
- Arrow down to the Streaming option
- Arrow down past QuickTime until you get to the QuickTime combo box
- ENTER on this option
- TAB to the Media combo box
- Arrow through to find the option you want
Note: two of the options of select bandwidth and 'dash dash' are not real options - instead pick from the audio speed options offered. There may only be one speed option to select. - TAB to the 'open' option
- ENTER on this option
- JAWS will read 'connecting'
- If you are unfamiliar with this page arrow through to orient yourself. The page is divided into four sections
- Media 1 frame: Copyright notice with Continue button to access audio
- Footer frame: Recording Details
- Index: Related media - containing the links to the slides of the PowerPoint presentation if available
- Media 2: when PowerPoint links are clicked the slides display here
- The only useful option on this page for JAWS users is the Continue button in the Media 1 frame
- Press the letter B key
- ENTER
- The copyright notice is gone and audio will start
- Note: Unfortunately if you need to pause, rewind or replay a section there are no JAWS commands for this
1.4.1. If you need to restart the audio
- F5 to reload the page
- Press the letter B key
- ENTER to start the audio once again
- CONTROL+W to close the window when finished
1.5. Downloading a Lectopia recording for use on a local device
Download may include options for putting a copy of the audio on a local device (e.g. your computer or MP3 player) or downloading any files such as PowerPoint presentations that may be associated with the lecture. If the PowerPoint slides have been made available, the file will be in a Portable Document Format (PDF) not a PowerPoint (PPT) file. Instructions for both options follow.
1.5.1. Media (MP3 format)
- Arrow down to download
- Arrow down to media combo box
- ENTER to select
- Arrow down to the desired download format (MP3)
- TAB to open combo box
- ENTER on this option
- JAWS will read 'connecting'
- A page divided into four section page appears (the same as for listening online) and the continue button will start the process
- Press the letter B key
- ENTER
- A download option appears
- CONTROL+HOME to go to the top of the page
- Arrow down to the Download Recording Format link
- ENTER
- The available options are Open, Save and Cancel
- S for save
- Select the Save option
- Choose your location to save the file
- ENTER
- Arrow down to the close option
- ENTER
- CONTROL+W
1.5.2. PowerPoint
- Arrow down to download
- Arrow down to the Slide/files combo box
- ENTER
- Arrow down to select the PDF/PowerPoint files
- ENTER
- Copyright notice appears
- Press the letter B key
- ENTER
- INSERT+F7
- Select 'Click to download'
- The available options are Open, Save and Cancel
- Open the PDF
- Note: The Acrobat PDF Reader program should offer to make the file accessible to JAWS users as needed.
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