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60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+65 XP
Pupils work on their own device

Slides Everyone Can Follow

Improve your slides so everyone can follow them, including people at the back of the room and those who need captions. Check readability, add titles and descriptions to images, and test live captions.

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    1 - Introduction ~4 mins

    Welcome

    Illustration for IntroductionClassmates at the back, people with low vision, and people who are hard of hearing still need to follow your talk. Today you fix {{code:02_talk_deck}} so they can.

    By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

    • Check text size and contrast from the back row.
    • Add slide titles and picture alt text.
    • Run the checker or checklist and test live captions.

    Warm-up

    At the last talk you watched, could you read every slide from your seat?

    2 - Key Concepts ~5 mins

    ConceptWhy it mattersExample
    Size and contrast, 36pt+ titles, 24pt+ body; dark on lightBack row can readGAA title at 40pt
    Slide title, title placeholder, every slideScreen readers; clear storyWhy walkers choose the Wild Atlantic Way
    Alt text, short picture descriptionMeaning without sightCliffs of Moher at sunset
    Live captions, speech to text liveHard-of-hearing can followYou say Doolin; words appear
    Tip

    Tools: PowerPoint web uses {{menu:Review -> Check Accessibility}}. Google Slides uses the checklist next (no built-in checker).

    3 - Step-by-step Task: Practise on Two Slides ~18 mins

    Learn the moves on two slides only. Portfolio Build owns the whole deck and the filled log.

    If {{code:02_talk_deck}} is missing: in {{code:Digital_Presentations}} create a new presentation and name it {{code:02_talk_deck}}. Add a title slide, one body slide, and one slide with a picture ({{menu:Insert -> Pictures}} or {{menu:Insert -> Image}}; any school-safe photo). Then continue from Choose two slides.

    Phases (still only your two practise slides): A Size and contrast · B Titles and alt text · C Checker or checklist · D Captions test

    Accessibility checklist (Google Slides has no built-in checker; use this list. PowerPoint users can double-check with it too.)

    • Every slide has a clear title in the title placeholder
    • Titles at least 36 point; body at least 24 point; labels or captions never under 18 point
    • Strong contrast (dark on light or light on dark; not grey on grey)
    • Every picture has short alt text that describes what it shows
    • Live captions appear when you speak in a slideshow

    Log shape for later (you create and fill {{code:08_accessibility_check}} in Portfolio Build):

    Accessibility check, Wild Atlantic Way talk
    Text size: body on slides 3 and 5 raised to 24 point
    Contrast: lightened background on slide 4
    Titles: added title to slide 6
    Alt text: added to three pictures
    Captions: tested on slides 1 and 2, working

    4 - Common Issues ~3 mins

    Common Issues

    IssueSolution
    No captions when I speakAllow mic, turn CC on, short phrase. Slides: Chrome online. {{kbd:Ctrl+Shift+C}} or {{kbd:Cmd+Shift+C}} (Mac).
    No subtitles in PowerPoint webStart the show; use the slideshow toolbar CC control.
    Checker clean but text still smallCheck yourself: titles 36+, body 24+.
    Cannot find Alt TextClick the picture first, then right-click.

    5 - Portfolio Build: 08_accessibility_check ~25 mins

    Independent Practice

    Your goal: Finish {{code:02_talk_deck}} on the checklist and record fixes in {{code:08_accessibility_check}}.
    Time: ~25 minutes
    Task:
    • Open {{code:02_talk_deck}}. Finish titles, size, contrast, and content alt text on every slide. Quiet captions retest if you can.
    • In the browser, open {{code:Digital_Presentations}}. Open or create {{code:08_accessibility_check}} ({{btn:New}} then Word or Google Doc; name it exactly).
    • Paste the shape below and fill real fixes.
    Accessibility check
    Text size:
    Contrast:
    Titles:
    Alt text:
    Captions:

    Long stretch: work slide by slide. If the checker is noisy, fix titles and alt text first.

    Minimum if slow: every slide titled, body 24pt+, alt text on all pictures, log filled. Captions are stretch if the mic is blocked.

    Success criteria:
    • {{code:02_talk_deck}}: titles, readable size and contrast, content-style alt text on every picture
    • Captions tested on two slides, or mic block noted in the log
    • {{code:08_accessibility_check}} in {{code:Digital_Presentations}} lists real fixes under the five labels
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