Online presentations and web-based seminars (webinars) are becoming more mainstream as educational institutions and training providers look for more efficient ways of supporting learners. But how do webinars work for people with disabilities? This blog post by Alistair McNaught looks at how to get the most from webinar opportunities. It is based on guidance developed […]
Category: Teaching
People are different. Personally, I loathe icons. I am a words person. I hate working with wordless IKEA self-assembly booklets or icon driven tablet and phone screens. Even after 3 months daily use I stare at my Mac screen trying to differentiate between email and word processing symbols because icons are just a jumble of […]
Most of the postings we make on accessibility and inclusion are upbeat and positive: we are firm believers that accessible practice is good practice. There are plenty of good positive reasons for engaging an inclusive teaching and learning. However, now and again it is worth considering the role of sticks as well as carrots in […]
With cuts to disabled student allowance (DSA) it is imperative that organisations become more inclusive, learning how to reduce barriers at source. Dr. Jennifer George, Academic Lead for Learning Technologies and Digital Media at Anglia Ruskin University, explains their approach to ensuring some of the key content students encounter has good accessibility credentials… Introduction Staff […]
Julia Taylor explains why Technology has a lot to offer learners with high needs. Accessible online delivery can improve access to resources at anytime, from anywhere. It’s easier to find and organise resources and interactivity encourages collaboration and engagement. Digital diversity means people with different learning strengths can benefit from resources created in different kinds of media. […]
On the face of it, it would seem a simple elegant accessibility solution to require transcripts for all audio resources on your virtual learning environment and transcript/subtitles for all video resources. However, this is an area where “unintended consequences” can lurk around every corner. For many learners, video IS the accessible alternative format – an […]
It’s easy to think that new publishing formats like EPUB3 have made accessibility issues a thing of the past. James Scholes – an expert screen reader user and ebook tester – suggests there’s still a long way to go… It’s no surprise that the eBook revolution has been a boon to many visually impaired people. For […]
Top tips for inclusive practice Technology gives a wide range of opportunities to teach more inclusively: digital content can be accessed and personalised in ways that suit learning needs and preferences. It also allows new pedagogical opportunities for working creatively and collaboratively with richer assessment and feedback opportunities. A few key tips can help maximise the […]
Recording of Lectures: examples from Higher Education (HE) Margaret McKay presents a synopsis of different approaches to recording lectures by different HE institutions. It also explores how some organisations have dealt with resistance to recording lectures – an important consideration because lecture recording may be deemed a reasonable adjustment under the Equalities Act 2010. “Lecture […]
Alistair McNaught considers the arguments for and against large scale lecture capture as a disability solution. A jewel in the crown or a cuckoo in the nest? Crowns. Lecture capture is being increasingly seen as a jewel in the crown of accessible mainstream practice. Many organisations are looking at lecture capture as a way of […]