The Challenges of Emerging Technology in Online Education Tips and tools for ensuring accessibility in the online environment
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