Creating Learning Objects with Xerte
Xerte is a content creation tool, developed by Nottingham University to allow users to create their own accessible interactive learning objects. The University worked closely with JISC TechDis to create a series of templates that allow users to quickly produce content that can contain video, audio or interactive activities such as drag and drop exercises or quizzes.
Learning objects created using Xerte have many inbuilt accessibility features, including the facility for the learner to change the text font, text size and background colour. The learning object can run from website or memory stick, or it can be uploaded to run within a virtual learning environment.
This resource, itself created in Xerte, is a quick guide on how to get started with Xerte. The resource provides an introduction, demonstrates all the functions available in Xerte and also has a link to a 'how to' guide produced in MS Word.
To access the resource select the link Creating Learning Objects with Xerte which will open the learning object in a new window. It is fairly easy to find your way around a Xerte learning object, but for help navigating Xerte, click the help function within Xerte. Work through the learning object and close the window when you have finished.
The resource was produced with Xerte, which has inbuilt accessibility features and can be used with screen readers. The 'How To' guide was produced in MS Word. The font size and background colour of the Word document can be altered and the text read out using a screen reader.
TechDis have an online toolkit so you do not need to download the software but can produce learning objects online http://www.techdisplayxerte.info/. Plus they have a series of how to guides http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getxerte.
As you are creating the Xerte learning object, test it out using the play options. Whilst testing it, change the screen size and text size to ensure that everything still appears as originally designed.
