| Technical criteria |
Overall
Page Layout |
- keep style of presentation consistent throughout site
- place important info at the top of the page
- elements should be arranged logically
- avoid complex backgrounds
- align page elements
- use whitespace to separate and organize information
- include margins on pages with a lot of text
|
| Text |
- text should be high contrast to background
- font should be large enough to make reading easy (12pt/20px)
- avoid using all capital letters
- use default fonts if possible
- avoid underlines if text is not a link
|
| Links |
- links should be clearly labeled
- when there are large numbers of links within text, try taking
them out of the text and placing them in a group after the
text
- check to make sure there are no broken links
- avoid mouseovers
|
| Graphics |
- avoid using graphics as links (or provide a text link also)
- make sure using an image justifies its download cost
|
| Color |
- make sure that information conveyed with color is also
available when color is gone
- use browser-safe colors
|
| Performance |
- pages should load in 10 seconds or less on a 56.6k dialup line
- avoid Flash if not needed
- avoid large or complex graphics if not needed
- warn the user before starting large downloads
|
| Navigation |
- avoid server-side image maps
- keep navigation elements consistent in appearance and position
throughout site
- try to use traditional labeling and placement for navigation
controls
- group navigation elements
|
| Content |
- use the simplest, clearest language possible to achieve goals
- keep material accurate and up-to-date
- material should be relevant to goals of the site
- break large blocks of text into smaller pieces if possible
- keep sentences and paragraphs short
- spelling and grammar should be correct
|
| Accessibility |
- provide alternate text for all non-text elements
- ensure that pages are still usable when stylesheets or JavaScript are missing
- create equivalent alternate pages if original pages can not be made accessible
- validate documents with published standards
- provide summaries for tables
- avoid blinking or animation unless needed
|
Instructional Criteria |
| Application of Online Techniques |
- communication channels for discussion outside
of the course material is provided
- prompt feedback is promised and delivered
- grades are available to students online
- interactive instructional material is used
- student-instructor interaction is encouraged
- early interaction is encouraged
- links to outside resources are available
- collaborative activities are encouraged
- structured discussion is fostered
- participation is encouraged
- material used is suited for web use
|
| Instructional Techniques |
- syllabus is readily available
- objectives are clearly stated
- rules and procedures are clearly stated
- prerequisites are clearly stated
- requirements are clearly stated
- technical knowledge
- hardware
- software
- contact info for technical help is clear
- contact info for instructor is provided
- assessment guidelines/rubrics are readily available
- schedules and due dates are clearly posted
- assignments are clearly written and posted
- active learning techniques are used
- the site is effective for more than two levels of intelligence
- students are challenged to think, reflect, discuss, hypothesize,
compare, and classify
- multiple assessment techniques are used
- high expectations are stated up front
- the number/frequency/size of projects is reasonable
- students get to work on "real-world" projects
- group activities are used
- self-directed learning is used
- lecture is used appropriately
- structured discussion is used
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