When gathering feedback regarding instructors' use of technology tools on campus, a common thread from students emerged about ICON sites. While many instructors have sites that are easy to navigate, set clear expectations, and contain all the necessary course materials, sometimes ICON sites can be difficult to use. 

To help meet campus-wide accessibility goals and with input from campus partners, the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology created an ICON course site template that can help guide the development of an accessible and uniform site.

Why a template?

This new course template is optional and not meant to replace existing templates that many units across campus already use for their programs. Rather, it offers resources and help to instructors who'd like some advice on how to present their courses in a way that will make it easy for students to have everything they need to succeed. 

The template meets all major accessibility best practices regarding the use of headings and tables, how to insert links or lists, and what is appropriate color contrast. All images in the template either have alternative text or are marked as decorative. In addition, it avoids heavy use of HTML formatting or tables for layout purposes to help keep pages easily navigable and to prevent accessibility pitfalls that can come with extensive table or HTML use. The template includes information on how to continue these practices as instructors build the site and provides resources to do so.

It also features instructions on how to duplicate items, create new pages, etc., to streamline the experience. It includes brand-compliant materials alongside instructions on how to implement or replace them. 

What's in the template?

• A home page with guidelines on what to present first and how to quickly situate students in the course. 
• A series of modules that contain overview pages to help layout materials and make course and unit expectations clear.
• A sample discussion to help guide the use of the Discussion Boards feature in ICON. 
• A sample assignment with instructions on how to set up assignments for an ICON course. 
• A sample quiz to allow for easy assessment creation. 

How to join the pilot

We’ll pilot this new template in the summer and fall semesters. Instructors who are interested in adding the template to their course and providing feedback about it can join the pilot by completing a form.