the challenges of emerging technology in online education tips and tools for ensuring accessibility...

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


• Over seven years working in Online Education• More than 600 unique course offerings


• Over seven years working in Online Education• More than 600 unique course offerings • Various technologies and platforms

implemented across the Institution


• 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



• Overreliance on YouTube “Beta” captions are not accurate



• 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


• Leverage YouTube to create a transcript

Tip: Know the How


• 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/

http://www.3playmedia.com/how-it-works/white-papers/




Challenge: Mathematics

• Static Images in Classroom that do not read with a screen reader



• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform



• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform • ebooks and PDFs are not accessible



• Adopting an inaccessible Math platform • ebooks and PDFs are not accessible• Faculty not familiar with how to create

accessible Mathematics



• 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



• Partner with Faculty and Instructional Designers to plan for alternate assignments prior to releasing a course



• 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!



• Adopting ebooks and other platforms using JavaScript




• Simulations and Quizzes that are not accessible





• Video content that lacks captions





• 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



• Plan ahead to identify accessible options



• Plan ahead to identify accessible options• Determine the level of risk in adopting the

platform – if the risk is high, do not adopt!




platform – if the risk is high, do not adopt!• Low risk plan an accessible way to adopt the

resource




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


• Web2Access – test forms and completed reviews– http://www.web2access.org.uk/disability

http://www.web2access.org.uk/disability

Tools: Community


• Web2Access – test forms and completed reviews– http://www.web2access.org.uk/disability

• Network – reach out to colleagues for feedback

http://www.web2access.org.uk/disability

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



• Build accessibility from the ground up



• 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



• Allows community to become the expert



• Allows community to become the expert

• Builds knowledge and fosters credibility

the challenges of emerging technology in online education tips and tools for ensuring accessibility...

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