Lists-2

 

Student experience

 

Lists provide a structured order to a group of connected or sequential content. A numbered or bulleted list may present the same information more effectively than simple data tables with fewer steps. Lists are great from an accessibility standpoint because they provide structured order to content in a linear fashion. Lists are recommended as potential replacements for simple tables, as tables can be more difficult to navigate and sometimes we provide information in tables that really would be better suited to lists.

  1. You can use lists inside of lists.
  2. You can use a numbered list with a nested bullet list.
    • Here's an example of a nested bullet list.
      • Step 1: To create a nested bullet list, place your cursor at the desired bullet list item.
      • Step 2:Then in the Rich Content Editor, select "Increase Indent".
    • If you create a list, make sure there is more than one bullet item. 
    • Lists usually consist of at least two or more items. 
  3. Just check to make sure they are coded properly.
    • This is an example of a list used incorrectly because there is only one list item. How many items minimum constitute a list? (Answer: two or more items.)

Lists should always be checked to make sure that the list items are really contained within one list, check to make sure that spacing does not break a list into multiple individual points, and use the proper techniques described below to create lists. You should never rely on indentation to provide a visual list, use the proper structure instead.

 

Step 1: When should you create a list?

 

Lists neatly present related ideas and outlines steps in a process. They also capitalize on white space, which can help make your page visually appealing.  

When to Use a Bullet List 

If your items are a group of equivalent ideas or terms, and the order is not an essential aspect of the concept, use a bulleted list. Consider, for instance, the list of things every instructor can easily do to make sure content pages are accessible to everyone:

  • Chunk material into useable bits.
  • Use white space to prevent cognitive overload.
  • Use styles to tag headings for users with screen readers and provide visually organized pages.
  • Use bulleted and numbered lists to synthesize information.
  • Integrate meaningful hyperlinks into your text.
  • Ensure color contrast is optimized for the visually impaired. 

When to Use a Numbered List

If your items are a sequence, steps to instructions, or an essential part of a whole (such as, "there are four things you need to know to complete this assignment"), use a numbered list. For instance, consider these sequenced instructions for creating a list:

  1. Select the numbered list icon from the editing bar.
  2. Enter the first step in your sequence, then select Return.
  3. Enter the next step in your sequence, then select Return.
  4. Continue entering steps until the instructions are completed.
  5. De-select the numbered list icon in the editing bar. Your cursor will snap back to the left margin, ending your numbered list.

 









 

Self-Check

Which of these examples use lists correctly? (Select A or B)

  1. You will need to sign into your email in order to access Word Online. Follow these instructions:

  2. You will need to sign into your email in order to access Word Online. Follow these instructions:

    1. Log into Office 365 Links to an external site..
    2. Select More Button
    3. Select Word application

Select the button below for the answer. 

Answer

 Common mistakes

  • Create lists manually without using the list style button in the rich content editor.
  • When bulleted lists are used when a numbered list is called for (or vice versa!).
  • How many items are needed in order to create a list? At least two or more list items. 

Self-Check

Which of these examples is correct? (Select A or B)

  1. You will need to sign into your email in order to access Word Online. Log into Office 365 Links to an external site.. 

  2. You will need to sign into your email in order to access Word Online.

Select the button below for the answer. 

Answer

 

Step 2: Microsoft Word Tutorial

 

 Watch tutorial

  • Duration
  • 1:19

 Read tutorial

  1. Highlight the grouped list of items.
  2. In the Home tab, select the appropriate list style (i.e, numbered list, or bulleted list).

 

 

Other considerations

 

 Using headings instead of numbered list to create tutorials

If you have multiple steps and you are adding images in between each step (like screenshots,) in lieu of using the list style button, consider creating linear steps stylized in a heading style. 

Your page layout will look cleaner and enable you to add images. Unfortunately, using the numbered list can cause some layout issues. Review this Canvas page example of using headings to assist with presenting a process (as opposed to using the numbered list style).