Designing Accessibility: Be Proactive
What is universal design in education?
Reness and all-
I have also found that as faculty for this environment, it is important to be accessible to the learners and to provide them with early feedback on their progress. In addition, collaborative assignments have worked well when learners are provided with adequate tools to accomplish their work. These include a discussion forums, ease of communication with both faculty and other learners, and early and frequent feedback on their progress. By utilizing these tools, it is possible to create a learning environment that is intensive and comprehensive while at the same time providing the learning within an accelerated environment.
Hello Ms. Schaffer and Colleagues, :-)
As stated in this course’s text, universal design refers to “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.†It is used in other fields, in addition to education, and is composed of seven principles which have been adapted to work in an educational environment.
Sara Fine
By definition, universal design in education is "the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaption or specialized design." This is the definition as specified by Ron Mace from North Carolina State University.
Donald L. Buresh
When institutions are proactive, it let the students know they care. Students are sometime to reluctant to seek help, so we as educators must monitor progress and have knowledge of how the students are progressing.
Universal design is making course materials available to multiple learners not just student with disabilities.
The basic principles developed by Ron Mace is a great guide learned in the module this session.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Jean
Universal design is simply the whole person or in this situation (student) concept, meaning, that the course information is made so that it encompasses everyone and not select personnel or those with special needs. In running as a group, many years ago, we would always run at the person in the middle pace to balance things out.
Kristina,
Yes, all courses would probably work better if everyone used some universal design techniques.
Renee Shaffer
Universal Design is standard format with guiding principles to help educators development curriculum giving all individuals an equal opportunities to learn and succeed.
Designing an LMS program that is accessible by all learner types
The concept of Universal Design is one that allows all users (students) the ability to access all components of education whether online or ground. It has 7 principles that center around equitable use and flexibility.
Universal Design is the ability to create a course that is usable by all people; those who do not have disabilities or impaired capacities as well so those who have needed of the ADA tools.
Universal Design provides teachers with the cognitive ability to meet the diversity of all student learners. This allows learners to recognize that there is flexibility for them to learn the subject of the course and demonstrate their own abilities.
Thomas,
It is always so much easier to make course content accessible from the beginning than to retroactively do it. That is the essence of good course design.
Renee Shaffer
It is a guide to good course design and management that focuses on accessibility, interaction, timely feedback and support for the student. It should focus on using active learning and providing encouragement for the student while respecting diversity.
Universal design is important in all learning because some students may have disabilities and have not reported them to the school. As an online instructor you would never know the difference.
Considering universal design concepts in your coursework will help those students who prefer not to report their disabilities. They will still have full accessibility to the course material.
Universal Design is a framework that provides educators with a structure to develop their instruction to meet the wide range of diversity among all learners. It provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged.
Indeed ~ well said! "Design" is - by definition - a proactive process. Recognizing that we can always do better and redesign our standards and old habits accordingly along the way will only improve the process for both faculty and all kinds of students.
Universal design in education involves making the academic process and the tools it requires accessible by and available to all. Not all students - whether with or without disabilities - will need or want to use all available resources based on their learning styles and preferences; but all must be available to them regardless.
Jaclyn,
Well said. Here's to having more instructors taking this proactive stance.
Renee Shaffer
