Language use
In a university context, we can generally assume that teaching staff and students have achieved a certain level of language proficiency. However, the German language can be rather complex and it can be helpful to have a clear idea of the target group that the text addresses when writing a text:
- If you wish to provide information to a large group of individuals, such as first-year students or new members of staff, the presumed level of knowledge of the target group should be borne in mind when compiling content.
- In most cases, international staff and students have the required German language skills. Still, this group of people may have difficulties following content or may need more time to process complex information.
- Many people have difficulties reading on screens. Clearly structured online texts in which the important messages can be easily identified make it easier for them to access information.
Therefore, it is recommended that important information, such as lecture dates or important information on examinations, be formulated concisely. If necessary, provide information in both German and English.
Quelle: Open Moodle course on keeping barriers to a minimum from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (German only)
Technical terms and abbreviations
Technical terms and abbreviations are initially unknown to many users. Users with certain conditions may also have difficulties understanding unusual words or abbreviations. This also applies to users whose native language is not German.
Equally, screen reading software has problems pronouncing uncommon abbreviations correctly. If you would like to use abbreviations and technical terminology in your Moodle course, compile a glossary (‘Add an activity or resource > Glossary’). When the ‘Glossary auto-linking’ filter is enabled, the terms stored in the glossary will be automatically linked whenever they are used in text fields, descriptions or headlines within the Moodle course.
Furthermore, it is helpful to flag abbreviations when they are first used in a Moodle course, either by adding the written-out version in brackets after the abbreviation or by tagging them with
<abbr> in the source code.