JAWS, NVDA, and Basic Computer Navigation
Welcome to Screen Readers 101! In this course, we’ll learn the basics of using screen readers on a Windows computer. The course is broken into bite-sized chunks to help you build your screen reader skills without feeling too overwhelmed. Screen readers are really not as scary as they might seem, and with a bit of practice, you’ll be confidently controlling your screen reader in no time!
This course was created to help sighted adults get acquainted with Windows screen readers. For school age students, check out the sample lesson plans on the Resources page, which provide significantly more scaffolding around the concepts covered in this course.
Here’s an overview of the topics covered in this course:
- What is a screen reader?
- Commonly used keys and their functions
- Basic computer navigation
- Working with applications
- Managing your files
- Reading and editing text
To begin the course, just follow the Lessons link in the navigation panel. All the quizzes in the course are optional. If you pass all of the quizzes, you will receive a certificate for 3 PDU hours (Oregon teachers only).
Helpful Resources
This course is based on this JAWS and NVDA: Basic Computer Navigation document. You may find it helpful to refer to this document while working through the course. The document includes a short video demonstration of all the keyboard commands covered in this course (also included in Lesson 2).
Check the Resources link for a data tracking sheet, sample lesson plans, AI assistants and more!