Post on 19-Jan-2016
The Challenges of Emerging Technology in Online Education
Tips and tools for ensuring accessibility in the online environment
Introductions
• Steve Salter, Director of Student Access and Wellness at Ashford University
Introductions
• Beth Lund, Technology Accessibility Specialist at Ashford University
About our experience…
• Over seven years working in Online Education
About our experience…
• Over seven years working in Online Education• More than 600 unique course offerings
About our experience…
• Over seven years working in Online Education• More than 600 unique course offerings • Various technologies and platforms
implemented across the Institution
About our experience…
• Over seven years working in Online Education• More than 600 unique course offerings • Various technologies and platforms
implemented across the Institution• Large number of remote faculty and an even
larger group of adjuncts
Our approach today
• Highlight a challenge
Our approach today
• Highlight a challenge• Provide tips to address the challenge
Our approach today
• Highlight a challenge• Provide tips to address the challenge• Share resources to support in addressing the
issue
Challenge: Captioning
• Videos without captions
Challenge: Captioning
• Videos without captions
• Overreliance on YouTube “Beta” captions are not accurate
Challenge: Captioning
• Videos without captions
• Overreliance on YouTube “Beta” captions are not accurate
• The belief that transcripts are sufficient
Tip: Know the How
• Learn steps to caption in-house
Tip: Know the How
• Learn steps to caption in-house
• Leverage YouTube to create a transcript
Tip: Know the How
• Learn steps to caption in-house
• Leverage YouTube to create a transcript
• Identify vendors that caption
Tip: Know the Why
• Case Law
Tip: Know the Why
• Case Law
• Copyright
Tip: Know the Why
• Case Law
• Copyright
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Tip: Know the Why
• Case Law
• Copyright
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Seek permission to caption
Tools: 3 Play Media White Papers
• 3play Media White Papers can be found here: http://www.3playmedia.com/how-it-works/white-papers/
Challenge: Mathematics
• Static Images in Classroom that do not read with a screen reader
Challenge: Mathematics
• Static Images in Classroom that do not read with a screen reader
• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform
Challenge: Mathematics
• Static Images in Classroom that do not read with a screen reader
• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform • ebooks and PDFs are not accessible
Challenge: Mathematics
• Static Images in Classroom that do not read with a screen reader
• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform • ebooks and PDFs are not accessible• Faculty not familiar with how to create
accessible Mathematics
Challenge: Mathematics
• Static Images in Classroom that do not read with a screen reader
• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform • ebooks and PDFs are not accessible• Faculty not familiar with how to create
accessible Mathematics• Complexity of MathPlayer, MathML and
Screen Readers
Tip: Get in Front of the Issues
• Review content and platforms before adopting
Tip: Get in Front of the Issues
• Review content and platforms before adopting
• Partner with Faculty and Instructional Designers to plan for alternate assignments prior to releasing a course
Tip: Get in Front of the Issues
• Review content and platforms before adopting
• Partner with Faculty and Instructional Designers to plan for alternate assignments prior to releasing a course
• Train faculty on the importance of Math accessibility
Tip: Use Expertise of Third Party Vendors
• Formatting Mathematics Alternate Text Materials is time consuming…
…and complicated
Tools: Math Cloud
• https://www.mathmlcloud.org/#/
Challenge: Technology Suites
• News Flash! Accessibility isn’t always top of mind for Faculty!
Challenge: Technology Suites
• News Flash! Accessibility isn’t always top of mind for Faculty!
• Adopting ebooks and other platforms using JavaScript
Challenge: Technology Suites
• News Flash! Accessibility isn’t always top of mind for Faculty!
• Adopting ebooks and other platforms using JavaScript
• Simulations and Quizzes that are not accessible
Challenge: Technology Suites
• News Flash! Accessibility isn’t always top of mind for Faculty!
• Adopting ebooks and other platforms using JavaScript
• Simulations and Quizzes that are not accessible
• Video content that lacks captions
Challenge: Technology Suites
• News Flash! Accessibility isn’t always top of mind for Faculty!
• Adopting ebooks and other platforms using JavaScript
• Simulations and Quizzes that are not accessible
• Video content that lacks captions• Not the owner of the content or platform
Tip: Partner with Course Developers
• Test prior to procurement
Tip: Partner with Course Developers
• Test prior to procurement
• Give vendors accessibility feedback before contract is finalized – Meet to discuss feedback and strategize solutions
Tip: Evaluate the Risk
• Ensure that you adopt accessible features of a suite
Tip: Evaluate the Risk
• Ensure that you adopt accessible features of a suite
• Plan ahead to identify accessible options
Tip: Evaluate the Risk
• Ensure that you adopt accessible features of a suite
• Plan ahead to identify accessible options• Determine the level of risk in adopting the
platform – if the risk is high, do not adopt!
Tip: Evaluate the Risk
• Ensure that you adopt accessible features of a suite
• Plan ahead to identify accessible options• Determine the level of risk in adopting the
platform – if the risk is high, do not adopt!• Low risk plan an accessible way to adopt the
resource
Tip: Evaluate the Risk
• Ensure that you adopt accessible features of a suite
• Plan ahead to identify accessible options• Determine the level of risk in adopting the
platform – if the risk is high, do not adopt!• Low risk plan an accessible way to adopt the
resource • Use case law to support your risk analysis
Tools: Community
• ListServes – ask the community about experience with technology
Tools: Community
• ListServes – ask the community about experience with technology
• Web2Access – test forms and completed reviews– http://www.web2access.org.uk/disability
Tools: Community
• ListServes – ask the community about experience with technology
• Web2Access – test forms and completed reviews– http://www.web2access.org.uk/disability
• Network – reach out to colleagues for feedback
Challenge: Balancing Accessibility and Technology
• How do you balance creating an engaging user experience with ensuring new technologies are accessible?
Challenge: Balancing Accessibility and Technology
• How do you balance creating an engaging user experience with ensuring new technologies are accessible?
• How do you convince faculty that accessibility needs to be considered when exploring new platforms, content, and experiences?
Tip: Highlight the Benefits
• Considering accessibility benefits all users
Tip: Highlight the Benefits
• Considering accessibility benefits all users
• UDL – Learning for All
Tip: Develop Strong Training and Resources
• Teach faculty how to fish
Tip: Develop Strong Training and Resources
• Teach faculty how to fish
• Build accessibility from the ground up
Tip: Develop Strong Training and Resources
• Teach faculty how to fish
• Build accessibility from the ground up
• Provide ongoing support to guide practice
Tools: WCAG 2.0
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Challenge: Relationships
• Being viewed as the “Bad Cop”
Tip: Highlight the Good
• Give examples of what is done well
Tip: Highlight the Good
• Give examples of what is done well
• Have open discussions to further understanding of what the issues are
Tip: Foster Collaboration
• Develop an ADA Round Table
Tip: Foster Collaboration
• Develop and ADA Round Table
• Identify regular opportunities to hold court to discuss breakthroughs and barriers facing the campus community
Tools: Create Internal ListServe
• Visibility to common accessibility questions
Tools: Create Internal ListServe
• Visibility to common accessibility questions
• Allows community to become the expert
Tools: Create Internal ListServe
• Visibility to common accessibility questions
• Allows community to become the expert
• Builds knowledge and fosters credibility