Rise 360: Keyboard-Accessible Navigation
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Good news! Learners can navigate Rise 360 courses entirely with their keyboards. This article explains how. And authors don’t have to do anything to enable keyboard accessibility; it’s built right into the published output.
Rise 360 follows Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) standards for common navigation features, such as buttons, links, and forms. And for custom features that aren’t covered by ARIA, such as interactive markers and sorting activities, Rise 360 uses custom keyboard navigation that feels natural and intuitive.
The first section of this article describes the navigation keys and their general behavior. The second section details specifically how to use keyboard navigation in each segment of a course. And the last section explains how to enable tab-key navigation on a Mac.
- Keyboard Navigation—Getting Started
- Keyboard Navigation—Going Deeper
- How to Enable Tab-Key Navigation on a Mac
Keyboard Navigation—Getting Started
The following table lists the keys for navigating Rise 360 courses and the general behavior of each key.
Some custom Rise 360 features require a combination of these navigation keys. For example, labeled graphic lessons make use of all the navigation keys. See the next section for details.
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Tab / Shift+Tab |
Use the Tab key to move from one interactive object to the next. Use Shift+Tab to move in reverse order. For example, use the Tab key to jump from one lesson title to the next in the sidebar. Use Shift+Tab to jump back to the previous lesson title in the sidebar. |
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Arrow Keys |
Use the arrow keys to scroll through text, interact with media, and navigate between items in a lesson, block, or question. For example, use the Up and Down arrow keys to cycle through answer choices in quiz questions. Use the Left and Right arrow keys to move between steps in a process lesson and control the seekbar for audio and video content. |
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Enter / Spacebar |
Use the Enter key or spacebar to activate the selected object (similar to a mouse click). For example, use the Enter key to activate a button or hyperlink. Use the spacebar to mark an answer choice in a quiz question and play/pause audio and video content. |
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Esc |
Use the Esc key to close labeled graphic markers, deselect choices in matching questions, and exit zoomed images and full-screen videos. |
Keyboard Navigation—Going Deeper
This section describes in detail how to use keyboard navigation in each segment of a Rise 360 course, including the cover page, sidebar menu, lessons, and blocks.
- Course Cover Page
- Sidebar Menu
- Lesson Navigation (common navigation features)
- Block Lessons
- Quiz Lessons
Course Cover Page
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move from one button or lesson title to another.
- Press Enter to activate a button or launch a lesson.
Sidebar Menu
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move from one link to another.
- If the course title is selected when you press the Tab key, an option will appear that lets you skip the sidebar and jump directly into the lesson content. Press Enter to skip the sidebar or press Tab to continue navigating through the sidebar features.
- Press Enter to activate any link in the sidebar. If a lesson title is selected when you press Enter, you’ll skip the rest of the sidebar navigation features and jump directly into the lesson content.
Lesson Navigation
Rise 360 lessons have these common keyboard navigation features. See the following sections for details on each lesson type.
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move from object to another.
- To jump to the previous lesson in the course, Shift+Tab until the header for the previous lesson is selected, then press Enter.
- To jump to the next lesson in the course, use the Tab key until the footer for the next lesson is selected, then press Enter.
- Use the Tab key to select media, then press the spacebar to interact with it (zoom an image, play a video, or listen to audio).
- Use the Tab key to select embedded web content, such as a YouTube video or a Wikipedia article, then press Enter or the spacebar to interact with its links and controls.
Block Lessons
Navigate block lessons using these common navigation features. And see below for details on navigating each block type.
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through text, including text in between multimedia and interactive blocks.
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move from one interactive object to another.
- Use the Tab key to select media, then press the spacebar to interact with it (zoom an image, play a video, or listen to audio).
- Use the Tab key to select embedded web content, such as a YouTube video or a Wikipedia article, then press Enter or the spacebar to interact with its links and controls.
Note: While image and quote carousels, process interactions, drag-and-drop interactions, and chart blocks can be navigated via keyboard, the experience isn't optimal. We're working on improvements to make keyboard navigation for these blocks more intuitive. If you do use them, please keep in mind that they may not meet accessibility guidelines.
Text, Statement, Quote, and List Blocks
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through text.
- Use the Left and Right arrow keys to flip through quote carousels.
- Press Enter or the spacebar to check and uncheck boxes in checkbox lists.
- Use the Left and Right arrow keys to flip through image carousels.
- To zoom into an image, use Tab or Shift+Tab to select it, then press Enter or the spacebar.
- To zoom out of an image, press Enter, the spacebar, or Esc.
- For audio blocks, press the spacebar to play and pause the audio.
- For video blocks, press the spacebar to play and pause the video. Once played, use Tab or Shift+Tab to navigate through the video controls, and press Enter to activate each control.
- For a web video, use Tab or Shift+Tab to navigate through the video controls and press Enter to activate each control.
- For a web page, press Enter to open it in a new browser tab.
- For an attachment, press Enter to download it.
- For a code snippet, use the Up and Down arrows to scroll through the text.
- Use the down arrow key to navigate beyond multimedia blocks to any text that follows.
- Use Tab or Shift+Tab to select an item in the accordion.
- Press Enter or the spacebar to expand and collapse the selected item.
- Use Tab or Shift+Tab to select a tab in the interaction.
- Use Left and Right Arrows to navigate between tabs.
- Use Tab to focus on the content in the selected tab.
- Use Shift+Tab to move back to tabs.
Interactive Labeled Graphic Blocks
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move from one closed marker to another.
- Press Enter or the spacebar to open a marker.
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the contents of an open marker.
- Use the Left and Right arrows to move from one open marker to another.
- Press Esc to close a marker.
- On the introduction, use the Tab key to select the Start button, then press Enter or spacebar.
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the contents of each step.
- On the summary, use the Tab key to select the Start Again option, then press Enter or spacebar.
- On text content, use the Tab key to select the Continue or Start Over button, then press Enter or spacebar.
- On dialogue content, use the Tab key to select responses and the Continue or Try Again button, then press Enter or spacebar.
Interactive Sorting Activity Blocks
- Use the Tab key to select a category (drop target).
- After selecting a category, use Tab and Shift+Tab or the Left and Right arrow keys to cycle through the categories.
- Select the category that matches the item that’s currently displayed, then press Enter or the spacebar to move the item to the selected category. If the answer is correct, the item will move briefly to the category then disappear. If the answer is wrong, the item will shake briefly, then you can select a different category and try again.
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the timeline.
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to jump from one event to another.
Interactive Flashcard Grid Blocks
- Use Tab or Shift+Tab to select a card.
- Press Enter or the spacebar to flip the selected card.
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through text.
Interactive Flashcard Stack Blocks
- Use the Tab key to select the first card in the stack.
- Use the Left and Right arrow keys to move through the stack of cards.
- Press Enter or the spacebar to flip the selected card.
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through text.
- Use Tab or Shift+Tab to select a button.
- Press Enter to activate the button.
- Use Tab and Shift+Tab to navigate Storyline interactions. A yellow box will appear around the selected object as you move through the content.
- Press Enter or the spacebar to activate buttons and links, select answer choices, and interact with media.
Knowledge Check Multiple Choice Blocks
- Tab to the first answer choice. If you want to select the first answer choice, simply press the spacebar. To choose a different answer, use any arrow key to cycle through the answer choices until the one you want is selected.
- Press Enter to submit your answer.
- To retry the question, use the Tab key to select the Take Again option, then press Enter to activate it.
Knowledge Check Multiple Response Blocks
- Tab to each answer choice and press the spacebar to check or uncheck the box.
- Press Enter to submit your answer.
- To retry the question, use the Tab key to select the Take Again option, then press Enter to activate it.
Knowledge Check Fill-in-the-Blank Blocks
- Tab to the answer field and type your response.
- Press Enter to submit your answer.
- To retry the question, use the Tab key to select the Take Again option, then press Enter to activate it.
Knowledge Check Matching Blocks
- Tab to the first answer choice in the left column, then use the Up and Down arrow keys to cycle through the choices until the one you want is selected.
- Press the spacebar to activate the selected choice. It’ll turn gray, which means it’s ready to be linked to a match in the right column. If you want to deactivate the selected choice, press the spacebar again or press the Esc key.
- When a choice is active (gray), use the Right arrow key to switch to the column of matches on the right side of the question, then use the Up and Down arrow keys to cycle through the matches until the one you want is selected.
- Press the spacebar to link the active choice on the left to the selected match on the right.
- Use the Left arrow key to switch back to the column of choices on the left side of the question and continue linking choices and matches.
- After linking all choices on the left with matches on the right, press Enter to submit your answer.
- To retry the question, use the Tab key to select the Take Again option, then press Enter to activate it.
- Press Enter to activate Continue buttons.
- For line dividers, numbered dividers, and spacers, simply use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll past them.
Quiz Lessons
To begin a quiz, use the Tab key to select the Start Quiz option, then press Enter. And see below for details on navigating each question type.
- Tab to the first answer choice. If you want to select the first answer choice, simply press the spacebar. To choose a different answer, use any arrow key to cycle through the answer choices until the one you want is selected.
- Press Enter to submit your answer.
- Tab to each answer choice and press the spacebar to check or uncheck the box.
- Press Enter to submit your answer.
- Tab to the answer field and type your response.
- Press Enter to submit your answer.
- Tab to the first answer choice in the left column, then use the Up and Down arrow keys to cycle through the choices until the one you want is selected.
- Press the spacebar to activate the selected choice. It’ll turn gray, which means it’s ready to be linked to a match in the right column. If you want to deactivate the selected choice, press the spacebar again or press the Esc key.
- When a choice is active (gray), use the Right arrow key to switch to the column of matches on the right side of the question, then use the Up and Down arrow keys to cycle through the matches until the one you want is selected.
- Press the spacebar to link the active choice on the left to the selected match on the right.
- Use the Left arrow key to switch back to the column of choices on the left side of the question and continue linking choices and matches.
- After linking all choices on the left with matches on the right, press Enter to submit your answer.
- To retake the quiz, use the Tab key to select the Take Again option, then press Enter.
How to Enable Tab-Key Navigation on a Mac
Tab-key navigation is supported by default in web browsers on Windows computers. However, Mac users might need to enable tab-key navigation in their browser settings or system preferences. Click your browser below for instructions.
Safari
- Open your Safari browser, then go to Safari on the menu bar and choose Preferences.
- Click the Advanced tab.
- Mark the accessibility option that lets you Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage.
Google Chrome
Tab-key navigation is enabled by default in Google Chrome, but if it has been disabled, here’s how to re-enable it.
- Open your Google Chrome browser, then go to Chrome on the menu bar and choose Preferences.
- Scroll down to the Appearance section.
- Enable the option called Pressing Tab on a webpage highlights links, as well as form fields.
Firefox
Firefox doesn’t have a setting for tab-key navigation, but you may need to make a change to your Mac’s system preferences.
- Press Option-F5 to open keyboard preferences. (If nothing happens, press fn-Option-F5.)
- Click the Shortcuts tab at the top of the window.
- Mark the All controls option at the bottom of the window under Full Keyboard Access.