Issue with font size discussion revision

[dsemb]

Having smaller font for replies in discussion threads decreases readability. This is a poor redesign and makes using a smaller screen very difficult if not impossible. This is as an accessibility issue and should offer an option to be turned off. 

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @dsemb ...

I'm not seeing smaller font in a discussion reply that I just tried out in my own sandbox course.  See the yellow circled area.  Seem to be the same font size to me.

[dsemb]

Chris,

Does it reduce in your course once you reply to the original post in a thread answering the discussion topic like my course screenshot and the feedback provided in April on the beta version? The "Reply" and "Mark as Unread" in the threaded reply is the original 12pt font while the reply itself is in a 10.7 font (when pasted into word). Every reply to a post from here on down is 10.7pt font. 

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Ideas/Discussions-Increase-font-size-for-replies-in-discus...

 

 

[Chris_Hofer]

@dsemb ...

For clarification, you pasted text from Word into the Canvas Discussion topic reply?   If that is the case, then I can see why the font size might be different.  Word does some pretty funky things sometimes when copying content from there and pasting into Canvas.

In my testing, I did not change any of the font sizes in both the original topic or the reply.  They are both 12pt font.

[dsemb]

From Canvas to word just to get an idea of the difference in size with a number to reference, I am aware of the font substitutions when pasting into Canvas. I copied from the original text in Canvas to word and it comes up as 12pt, copying the reply text from Canvas to Word pastes as 10.7pt. You can see in the screenshots and the link that the replies to a post (not the prompt) all have a smaller font, smaller than the Canvas links to reply or mark as read/unread

[dsemb]

 

Here is a clip of student's post with a clip of a classmates response to that post placed side by side for reference. 

[KristinL · Accepted solution]

Hi @dsemb - Because you have raised this concern after the official launch on July 20, I will move the idea submitted in April into the New status in Ideas and Themes. 

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Ideas/Discussions-Increase-font-size-for-replies-in-discus... 

[DarenCline]

As teacher, my posts appear too small.  Much smaller than students' posts which presumably are in the default 12pt.  If I go to Student Mode and post as "Test Student", the posts are properly sized, and the posts from "Teacher" are too small. So this problem appears to depend on role?

[DarenCline]

BTW - I'm referring to typing directly into the message box, not pasting from Word or anything else like the discussion below describes.

[MLFriesen]

I have a disability that prevents me from using large screens and can only use Canvas on my phone. The Discussion replies are SO SMALL that I cannot read them. This is absolutely an accessibility issue and one that I hope is resolved ASAP!

[cheryltice]

I'm so glad you shared your experiences with this. I've been warning about the accessibility issues caused by the Discussions Redesign for months now. I'm surprised they haven't resolved this very important issue yet. Given the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I'm actually kind of shocked that they are not required to make their features ADA-compliant and comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Font that is too small to read seems like a compliance issue.

For those who want to read more about the ADA: The Americans with Disabilities Act | ADA.gov

For those interested in WCAG: WCAG 101: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines | WCAG

Issues with text size and formatting can create a huge barrier for students and educators with disabilities to participate fully in asynchronous conversations in discussion boards. Based on my experience with the updated interface, formatting issues are also challenging for people who do not have disabilities because it doesn't adequately differentiate posts from replies in the threads.

Cheryl