Accessible Moodle (implementation guide)

4.3. Headings within activities

On a text page, the first heading is labeled h2. If headings other than the default ("Name") are used within the description of an activity or in the material book, these begin with h3. In a text field (visible on the course page), the first heading is marked with h4.

What is meant by this?

In a nutshell, Moodle is a programmed surface on which you can work. For this reason, there is pre-formatting over which course creators have no influence. This also includes headings. Depending on the course page, heading formatting is already predefined and can no longer be used in the self-created text.

Why is it important?

Marking up headings with the corresponding HTML tags (e.g. h2, h3, h4) is important to ensure a consistent and structured presentation of content. This facilitates navigation and understanding for all recipients, but especially for recipients with visual or cognitive impairments.

The use of h2, h3 and h4 tags depending on the hierarchy of headings promotes accessibility by enabling screen readers and assistive technologies to efficiently read the text aloud and correctly interpret the hierarchy of information.

This is particularly advantageous for students with visual impairments or learning difficulties, as they can find a clear and comprehensible structure in the course materials and can process the learning material better.

How can I implement/check it?

The following must be observed during implementation:

On a text page there is only the page title, which is marked with h1. Therefore, the headings in the text can start with h2 (if this heading is enabled).

In the activities or in the book, further headings can be added in addition to the heading or the name of the activity. As a rule, these should be marked with h3. If headings are used in the text within a book (as in the case of this book), they begin with h5.

As a text field is not a separate (sub)page and is therefore directly visible on the course page, the first heading must start with h4. This is because the page title is pre-formatted in h1 and the sections in h3.

To check which headings are already in use, take a look at our tips for checking accessibility.