I learned that there are many new tools available to increase accessibility to learning. I had heard of some of these but not all.
I have not had to use JAWS but now realize the importance of learning this technological tool.
Now that we are all doing online teaching, this module has been an eye-opener for me pertaining to students with disabilities. I have learned of all the necessary tools out there that educator can access to help student online
There is a multitude of tools and platforms available so that there is no one group or individual who will go without assistance. Taking responsibility and doing research will assist your institution and keep your content and equipment updated.
Important to know that the LMS systems are not necessarily accessible. This is problematic since they are in such wide use. A student with a disability must be treated fairly and I must ensure my institution is supporting that student in the best ways possible.
I had no idea there were so many resources available. These will definetly help me when dealing with students with disabilities.
There are several things that the online instructor must keep in mind when putting materials online. They include:
- videos with audio must be captioned;
- audio files need to have text transcriptions;
- images need alternative text or descriptions;
- color should not be used to convey meaning; and
- tables should include row and column headings.
Just because you post doesn't mean it is accessible.
I was surprised to find that LMSs are not on their face all accessible. It seems blatantly illegal to construct those, but yet, it still is the case. I would think that lawsuits would have been brought if those same platforms lead to an OCR investigation that included fines. Seems like the standard has to be acceptability since that is what is required by the law.
The teacher more than likely will have more of a learning curve than the student. A student has been using assistive technology. In some cases using it for 13 years. The teacher may have never been aware of this technology. A teacher who can hear a lecture, read notes and review all types of learning formats has to understand how much harder a disable person needs to work to take on a course. That leads to how to best pace a course. This is why students with disabilities have extra teachers specializing in teaching in several areas.
I learned that active learning takes a lot of planning. Active Learning provides students with a full and interactive way to learn. Instructors need to start off the semester with a good 15min video explaining how the class will be focused on active learning and the benefits. Sometimes technology can get in the way of learning. There should be a lot of IT support 24/7 provided to the instructor and students. With the necessary guidance and acknowledgement for providing active learning more instructor 's would be willing to make the changes necessary.
I have learned that even if we try to provide all these services we may not be able to reach all students with disabilities. There are flaws in the equipment and software. We just have to research to figure out what works best for our students.
There is a wealth of assistive technology available for students.
I understand the need to allow for extra time for assessments, but it must be universal. In this asymchronous environment, I would allow for the same time for all students. If some students needed more time, then I would apply that same time to all involved.
Accessibilty is an important consideration for students with disabilities.
Online learning certainly posses many barriers for the disabled student. Many challenges lie ahead.
There are many resources for students with disabilities that can be utilized. There are also apps and screen readers which help the student to access more material.
I liked learning about how some LMS systems make learning difficult for those with disabilities. I appreciated the surveys conducted and guidance given based on results.
Online instructors need to be aware and mindful of online tools and assistive technology to better serve students who may need them.
Respectfully,
Kendrick Kim
kkim1@fullcoll.edu
It seems that LMS is still trying to provide course material as a basic building block for all students without regard to individuals that mightr need assistance with disabilities. I did not pick the LMS system for my school yet it seems it is my responsibility to ensure that system works for all students period. That is more time and effort without compensation to critically perform software and course content compatibility,. Should have been an IT developer.
New learning was the use of WAVE to check for images and web pages for accessibility, sound like a great tool to utilize in my online courses. Lots of software available; however, the cost may be prohibited for many so need to include multiple formats with course content
