Mary Ann Garcia

I learned that accessibility isn’t an add-on, it’s a legal and ethical part of course quality. Going forward, I’ll build UDL in from the start: caption/transcribe every media item, use clear headings and alt text, and ensure keyboard-only navigation with non–mouse-dependent assessment options. I’ll post materials early, keep dates stable, and provide asynchronous paths. I’ll coordinate with Disability Services, point students to available assistive tech, and actively monitor that approved accommodations (e.g., captions, extended time, accessible docs) actually work throughout the term.

I learned that accessibility isn’t an add-on, it’s core to quality, safety, and equity. Posting files isn’t the same as making them usable; captions, alt text, clear headings, and keyboard-only paths turn content into access. Going forward, I’ll audit each module (WAVE/WCAG), replace mouse-only tasks with equivalents, caption/transcribe all media, and coordinate with Disability Services and I’ll actively monitor that approved accommodations work throughout the term. I’ll also offer asynchronous options and milestone-based projects to reduce cognitive load, carrying the same UDL mindset into patient education so inclusion is routine in both my course and my nursing practice.

I learned that accessibility isn’t an add-on,  it’s part of quality and safety, just like hand hygiene or medication reconciliation in nursing. The module reframed my role: many disabilities are hidden, IDEA supports stop at high school, and in higher ed students must self-identify under ADA/504. That means my design choices can either remove barriers or create them.  I’ll front-load accessibility by auditing my shell before the term: captions/transcripts, clear headings and alt text, and keyboard-only navigation. I’ll keep dates stable, post a “Start Here” with weekly top takeaways, and chunk major projects into milestones with rubrics and exemplars. Live… >>>

I learned that accessibility isn’t an “add-on” for a few students, it’s core quality and safety for everyone. The module reframed disability for me: many needs are hidden, cognitive load matters, and reactive accommodations can’t fix barriers we designed in the first place. The UDL principles, multiple ways to present information, demonstrate learning, and engage, map naturally to nursing values of equity, patient-centered care, and clear communication.

In my courses, I’ll apply this by front-loading accessibility: locking due dates, posting weekly “Top 3 takeaways,” chunking major projects into milestones with rubrics, and offering equivalent, keyboard-friendly assessments (no mouse-only “hot spots”).… >>>

I learned that gamification isn’t “playing games” but deliberately using mechanics, tutorials, quests, guilds, boss battles, XP to drive learning while keeping rigor through guardrails like required assessments, caps on repeatables, and unlocks. In Nursing Fundamentals, I’ll post a five-minute sterile-field tutorial and have students replicate it with a micro-checklist. I’ll frame clear activity goals (e.g., “maintain a sterile field with zero breaks; document the wound accurately”) and run a quest sequence i.e. hand hygiene → PPE → sterile field → dressing, each with brief evidence of completion. The OSCE and SBAR handoff will be required boss battles that must… >>>