World Language Module Template

Just a quick share here because I know so many of us are trying to organize our lessons for online right now. I’ve worked in online content design for many years and find that it is always easiest to create a master template first that you can adjust for each unit of study. With the popularity of interactive slides, I decided to use that for my Module skeleton.

What does it do?

Run the presentation view here: Presentation view of Module Template (there is a download option in the lower right corner). I ran it in Google Slides to see how good it looks. It loses the cool animations but everything else runs fine.

As you mouse over each object, you see what each is intended to link to. The tabs across the top link to the four assessments (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) and some of the other items are used for these tasks. For example, the writing assignment tells students to click the envelope to read the latest email from their friend and they will have to reply.

At the current time, all of the links lead to my planning document – just a list of what will be included and where. Copy of the planning document

How do we use it?

Choose a unit of study and select links for each of the components in the planning document. Set up those links for each of the items and modify the task instructions to match how your students will practice and turn things in.

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Is it legal?

Of course it is copyright compliant. In fact, I created almost everything by hand. (Exceptions – mate, radio, and mic – all marked “Free for commercial use, no attribution required). I will upload all images to my Pixabay account soon and they too are marked with the same permissions. I love collaboration!

But it is also digitally accessible.

Because colleagues have asked about Digital Accessibility in Bitmoji classrooms, I’ll add a few steps that I take to make sure my presentations are digitally accessible to all. Taking these steps as you create new content right now will save abundant time later on. Read this article for more information. Digital Accessibility in K-12 Schools

1. Start with a provided layout and use the placeholders to add content as much as possible. Maintain the title and other assets as much as possible.
2. Avoid textboxes. These are difficult for screen readers and assistive navigational devices. Instead, use the content placeholders.
3. Use Alt text for all images. Personally, for ease of use, I open the Selection Pane and rename everything correctly so that as I work I know that “Rectangle” is actually the calendar, etc.
4. Use the accessibility checker. In Microsoft Powerpoint, it is found in the Review tab. It will point out any assets that do not have alt text, review your tables, and will tell you to do the last step….
5. Check reading order. You can do this using the tab key, checking the order in which the tab moves you through the document and making sure it is in a logical order. Alternatively, in the accessibility checker, you can find a small arrow next to each slide name that will open a pane revealing the order and you can rearrange items. A third way to check reading order is to open the Selection Pane and read from the bottom up (that’s how assistive tech will read it).

More detailed information can be found here, provided by the Disability Access Services department of California. Seven Steps to Creating an Accessible Powerpoint

Showing a Powerpoint

Here are two ways to make a Powerpoint open in view mode instead of requiring users to download and run the file.

1. Save the file as a Show instead of as a Presentation. The file tag will change from .pptx to .ppts. These files run automatically in a browser.
2. Add embed code to the end of the share link (what I did above). Get a link to share your powerpoint, and at the end of the link, add &amp=&action=embedview.

Comment if you have any questions, fun stuff to share, or just want to say hi!

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