Shortcomings and Frustrations of PDFs

Why PDFs Fall Short for Students

Most PDFs aren’t tagged or formatted for screen readers. Students who rely on assistive technology are left struggling to navigate basic course materials.

PDFs don’t adapt well for students who need larger fonts, different spacing, or custom text settings. Instead of reflowing to fit their needs, PDFs force endless zooming and scrolling.

Static layouts and dense text make it harder for students with ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning differences to locate and absorb key information.

On phones and tablets, PDFs are awkward and discouraging to use, limiting opportunities for learning on the go.

PDFs put the burden on students to work around the format, instead of giving them materials designed to support learning.

Updating them is cumbersome. Even a small change means exporting a new PDF, re-uploading it, and hoping students download the right version. Over time this becomes an even bigger issue, when faculty or staff leave the university, the original source files aren’t always available. Without the native document, remediating a PDF for accessibility or making updates is far more difficult and time-consuming.

Students often can’t tell which “final” PDF is current. Files named “syllabus_v2” or “final_final” create confusion and unnecessary stress.

PDFs don’t allow for easy edits, multimedia, or collaboration. They freeze information in place, even when flexibility is needed.

Dozens of PDFs pile up in Canvas courses and websites, forcing students to download, store, and manage them individually.

Scanned or image-heavy PDFs can be slow to load, large to download, and difficult to use on limited internet connections. They also create additional accessibility issues. While most browsers on both PCs and mobile devices allow for viewing PDFs, the experience is often inconsistent. What looks accessible in one setting may still be clunky or hard to read in another. This matters not only for students, but also for faculty and staff who access information across a variety of devices and platforms.