Headers make it easier to navigate tables

Using tables in your documents can be a good way to organise complex information for participants. To ensure that your tables are efficient and accessible, you should only use them for data and not for visual layouts. Adding headers to your tables will make it easier to participants to navigate tables, especially if they are using a screen reader.

If your data tables do not have headers, the associated document will have a low accessibility score.

This issue can be resolved in a word processing program, upload the newly updated file when you are done. Click the Accessibility score indicator to learn how to do this. Click on What this means for an explanation.

Add headers to your data tables

You can resolve the issue in a word processing program. Open the document, add table headers, and upload the newly updated file to your course. Click on How to set table headers for step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

Are you unsure how to create tables? Click on your software of choice in the Teacher Feedback panel and click on Tips for creating tables.

Click on How to set table headers and follow the instructions.
Open the file on your computer.
If you don't have a copy of the file on your computer, close the teacher feedback panel and download the file from your course.
Set table headers
Microsoft® Word: review the text in the first line of the table, it should be a suitable header. Click on the first row of the table. Select Table Design. Select Header Row. Right click on the first row of the table and select Table Properties. Select Row and Repeat as header row at the top of each page. Select OK.
*If "Repeat as header row a the top of each page" is not selected, table headers are ignored when exporting as a PDF and won't be visible to screen readers.
LibreOffice Writer: review the text in the first line of the table, it should be a suitable header. Right click the first row of the table and select Table Properties. Select Text Flow and Repeat heading.
Save the file
Upload the updated file to your course.

If you still have the instructions open in the teacher feedback panel, select Next and Browse to upload your file. If you do not have the teacher feedback panel open, select the Accessibility score indicator next to the file in your course and then Browse to upload your file.

Best practice for table headings

Follow these examples for making good column headers for tables

Use your word processing software to identify headers.
Write clear and concise headers.
Make sure that each header and its associated cells are understandable when read together.
Keep the table layout simple. Screen readers keep track of where they are in a table by counting cells, and it is possible to lose count in complicated layouts
You should not merge cells, split cells, or insert tables into other tables
Don't leave rows or columns completely blank