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Enhancing Accessibility and Learner Control with an AutoPlay On/Off Toggle

Best Practices for Instructional Designers Using Storyline

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Scenario

“Once upon a time in a far away land, a LAM, an LD, an ISD, a Course Developer, and an IV&V team did not agree…”

I want to start by a scenario I encountered with one of my assets this year. The LAM wanted the course to autoplay instead of having to manually click a play toggle on each slide. When I discussed with IV&V, my feedback was that the course must have the learner manually select play to meet our 508 standards. It seemed like each team member I consulted had a different preference, as well as the customer. There was a lot of back and forth with team members and the IV&V team, which caused confusion for everyone. I wanted everyone to have the best learning experience for the course, but I had a dilemma on my hands. How do I make the course compliant but allow each learner to take the course in the manner that best suits their learning preferences. If you, like me, have ever encountered this for one of your assets, there is now a solution, which is what we will dive into today by demonstrating how to implement an AutoPlay on/off toggle, which benefits all learners, supports accessibility, and meets compliance standards.

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What is the AutoPlay On/Off Toggle?

On state: Slides play automatically (audio, video, captions, animations).

Off state: Learner must click Play to start content.

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AutoPlay Demo in Storyline

https://360.articulate.com/review/content/02e9dd67-6f96-4324-8c19-2def15aae50e/review

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How AutoPlay Helps Learning

Continuous flow of information for narrative or sequential content.

Increases efficiency by allowing the learner control

Maintains engagement and momentum.

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Benefits for All Learners

Supports self-paced learning.

Reduces cognitive overload.

Allows review of visual elements before audio begins.

Learner choice and control over pacing.

Reduces frustration from missed information.

Improves engagement and comprehension.

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How AutoPlay Can Hurt Learning

Can make learners feel rushed if content starts before they’re ready.

May cause audio overlap with screen readers like JAWS.

Risk of missing content if the learner is distracted.

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How Manual Play Helps Learning

GIVES LEARNERS CONTROL OVER WHEN CONTENT STARTS.

ALLOWS TIME FOR REFLECTION AND PREPARATION BEFORE MOVING FORWARD.

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How Manual Play Can Hurt Learning

May disrupt the flow of narrative-driven content.

Can slow completion if learners procrastinate or forget to start playback.

Inconsistent pacing may affect group-based learning activities.

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How the AutoPlay/Manual Option �Supports Learners

Learner Need	Challenge Without Option	Benefit With Option
Extra processing time	Audio starts before reading/understanding visuals	Manual mode starts when learner is ready
Maintaining focus	Continuous play may cause missed details	Manual mode allows re-engagement before starting
Avoiding cognitive overload	Audio, captions, visuals start at once	Manual mode staggers sensory input
Consistent flow	Manual play disrupts momentum	AutoPlay maintains uninterrupted rhythm
Accessibility compliance	No control can violate Section 508	Option ensures control over multimedia

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Accessibility Benefits

Prevents audio from overlapping with screen reader output.

Gives visually impaired learners time to orient before playback.

Allows hearing-impaired learners to set up captions before starting.

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Common Learning Disabilities & Benefits of AutoPlay/Manual Option

Learning Disability/Condition	Challenges in eLearning	Benefit of AutoPlay/Manual Option
Dyslexia	Slow reading speed; difficulty decoding text when narration starts immediately	Manual mode allows extra reading time before audio begins
ADHD	Difficulty sustaining focus; missing details during AutoPlay	Manual mode supports re-engagement; AutoPlay maintains steady flow
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)	Trouble processing spoken info with simultaneous visuals	Manual mode lets learners preview visuals before narration
Visual Processing Disorders	Difficulty interpreting visuals when paired with audio	Manual mode separates visual review from audio playback
Memory & Executive Function Disorders	Challenges sequencing and retaining info	Manual mode allows mental organization; AutoPlay helps with consistent rhythm

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Cons of AutoPlay On/Off toggle

Slightly longer completion time if learners forget to start playback.

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AutoPlay vs Manual Play: Benefits and Drawbacks

AutoPlay		Manual Play
Benefits	• Continuous flow of content • Saves time • Maintains engagement	• Learner controls pace • Reduces cognitive overload • Supports accessibility
Drawbacks	• Can rush learners • May cause audio overlap with JAWS • Missed content if distracted	• Can disrupt narrative flow • Slower completion if learners pause too long • Inconsistent pacing
Accessibility Examples	• Works if captions are always on & synced • Smooth audio for visual impairments when timed	• Time to orient with JAWS before narration • Set up captions before audio starts

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Impact Without Using the AutoPlay Toggle

Learners may miss important audio or video content.
Increased frustration for JAWS users due to overlapping audio.
Reduced flexibility for learners needing a slower pace.

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Best Practice: Offer Both Options

Allow learners to toggle between AutoPlay and manual modes.
Supports accessibility needs and different learning styles.
Improves satisfaction and course completion rates.

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AutoPlay �Job-Aid

Will be in the Asset library in the coming weeks
Contains the triggers/variables on the master slide to copy into your Storyline course(s)
Provides step-by-step guidance on how to implement the AutoPlay toggle into Storyline
Lists the triggers exact triggers and variables to incorporate

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Storyline�Implementation Demonstration

Robert “Trey” Brock will demonstrate how to implement the AutoPlay toggle

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Conclusion & Key Takeaways

AutoPlay on/off promotes accessibility and learner control.
Benefits visually and hearing-impaired learners.
Supports 508 compliance and JAWS compatibility.
Creates a personalized pacing experience that fits a wider range of cognitive and sensory processing needs.
Enhances Section 508 compliance by providing user control over multimedia playback.
Improves overall satisfaction and reduces accessibility-related barriers in professional training environments.

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Q&A

Questions? Let's discuss.