Quick Links: | Why Proper Headings Improve Accessibility | How Headings Help Students Navigate Content | Apply Heading Levels Correctly in Canvas |
Why Proper Headings Improve Accessibility
An effective content structure improves usability and accessibility for all learners, particularly those who rely on assistive technologies. Screen readers depend on headings to understand and navigate content, making a clear and logical heading hierarchy essential. Proper headings also help all users scan and understand information more easily.
When content lacks a clear heading structure, students who use screen readers or other assistive technologies may struggle to navigate course materials. Without an organized hierarchy, assistive tools cannot reliably identify sections or relationships between content.
- Impact: Affects students with visual impairments, cognitive disabilities, and learning differences.
- Consequences: Increases cognitive load, makes navigation more difficult, and slows access to important information.
How Headings Help Students Navigate Content
Using a consistent heading hierarchy improves accessibility and organization for everyone. Headings allow screen readers to generate an outline of the page and help all users quickly locate and understand content.
- Improves readability and comprehension
- Enables efficient navigation with screen readers
- Organizes information into clear, manageable sections
Apply Heading Levels Correctly in Canvas
Follow these steps to apply proper headings in Canvas.
- Open your Canvas course and navigate to the page you want to edit.
- Select Edit to open the Rich Content Editor.
- Highlight the text you want to format as a heading.
- Choose the appropriate heading level from the formatting dropdown menu:
- Heading 2 for main sections
- Heading 3 for subsections
- Heading 4 for deeper subsections, if needed
- Verify that heading levels follow a logical order without skipping levels.
- Select Save to apply your changes.
Using headings consistently helps create a more accessible and user-friendly learning experience for all students.
Still need help? Drop in to Academic Technology's live faculty support room via Zoom, schedule a one-on-one consultation with an instructional designer, or reach out to the Technology & Learning Program to ensure your courses are fully accessible.
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