Choosing the Best Format for Digital Course Content

Use the decision tree below to determine the best format for your digital course content to ensure the content is accessible and engaging to support student learning.

For guidance on creating accessible course content in the desired format, access the Accessibility in Digital Content – Seven Core Skills Guide.

What kind of content are you creating?

1. Is the content primarily text-based (instructions, explanations, weekly overviews)?

Examples include instructions, explanations, weekly overviews, etc.

Build the content directly on a Brightspace HTML Page.

Most accessible option
Mobile-responsive and easy to update
Built-in accessibility checker
Ideal for chunked content and Creator+ enhancements

Continue to the next step.

2. Do students need to submit a response?

Examples include responding to prompts, completing questions and submitting work.

Choose an option based on the type of student action.

Option A — Students need a downloadable/editable file

Use a Microsoft Word Document.
- Best when students need to type into a file
- Built-in accessibility checker
- Works well for templates and worksheets

Option B — Students answer directly in Brightspace

Use a Brightspace Quiz (for Q&A, fill-in, short answer, self-checks).
- Best for structured questions
- Auto-graded options available
- Accessible and mobile-friendly
- Reduces file clutter for students
Use a Brightspace Assignment (for uploaded work or longer written responses).
- Students submit directly in the LMS
- Rubrics and feedback tools built in
- No document downloading required

Continue to the next step.

3. Is the content visual or interactive?

Examples include visual materials, interactive elements, simulations or step‑by‑step walkthroughs.

Choose based on how you want students to experience the visuals:

Option A — Students need to engage with visuals in an actual slide deck format

Use a PowerPoint Presentation.
- Best for presentations, narrated mini-lectures and class slides
- Accessibility checker built in
- Good for visually structured explanations

Option B — Students need to view the visual content, perhaps with interactive elements

Create a Brightspace Page with Creator+ Elements.
- Add hotspots, flip cards, accordions, or image annotations
- More interactive and more accessible than a standalone slide deck
- Streamlines the student experience (no downloads)

Continue to the next step.

4. Do you need to preserve the layout exactly as-is?

Use a PDF, but sparingly.

Least accessible format
Difficult to make accessible
Only recommended for documents that truly cannot be recreated digitally in accessible formats

View the PDF Remediation Strategies webpage for more information on making accessible PDF files.

How to get Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Acrobat Pro, part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, is needed to make PDF files accessible. Adobe Creative Cloud is an opt-in service at PNW. Users who have not yet been granted access must contact the Customer Service Center (CSC) at csc@pnw.edu to have an account created and permissions assigned. Once a license has been assigned, users can install and access Adobe software as follows:

PNW-owned Apple computers:
Users should open the Self Service portal and install the Creative Cloud app. After installation, they should sign in using their username@purdue.edu and associated password. From there, they can select and install the Adobe applications they need.
PNW-owned Windows computers:
Users should open the Software Center, install the Creative Cloud app, and sign in using their username@purdue.edu credentials. They can then choose which Adobe applications to install.

If a user receives a message prompting them to purchase Adobe products when signing in, this indicates their account has not yet been assigned a license. In this case, they should email csc@pnw.edu to request access to the Adobe Console.

For any issues during installation or sign-in, users are encouraged to contact the CSC.

The Brightspace HTML Page is the most accessible and flexible choice.