Removing barriers: creating accessible learningADSHE ConferenceJune 2015Gemma Holtam, Dearne Valley College

Who am I?

• Study skills coach• Interest in learning technology• Student

Overview

Who am I

How e-learning is currently used by ADSHE members

Background to my project

Examples VLE coursesChanges I have made

Challenges I faced

Designing your own course

Activity

On a post it note write down how you would define inclusive online learning?

Inclusive online learning as practice of creating online teaching and learning materials that can be used by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised equipment

My definition

Activity

Discuss: How is your institution creating accessible online learning?

The project

Using only free tools and the college’s Virtual Learning Environment create an accessible online study skills course.

My motivation for this project

My own experiences

• Full time employment – limited study time• Visual preference

• Forgetful – needs to overlearn information• Likes to listen to course related audio during daily commute

• Looking at examples of past students work reduces anxiety/helps to motivate me

• Appreciates a multisensory approach

Experiences when working in learning technology

Course 1 Course 2

Proposed changes to DSA

The government have indicated their expectation that greater emphasis be placed on universities to create inclusive learning environments that meet the needs of prospective disabled students.

I wanted to provide an example of good practice.

ADSHE 7 Principles

Activity: What technology is currently being used at the institutions that you work at to deliver learning activities that meet ADHSE’s 7 principles?

• Multisensory teaching• Metacognition• Modelling & ‘mentoring’• Overlearning• Relevance• Little & often • Motivation

HE Study Skills Moodle Page

Changes I made

Created written help guides and formatting these documents to be screen reader friendly.

Used screen capture software to turn Power

Point resources into videos.

Added quizzes to provide opportunities for testing knowledge.

Added a visual reading list to provide students with an image for when

they are looking for these resources in the library.

Insert link to screencast - https://vimeo.com/114766194

Student Feedback

IssueToo much text on apage.

Solution

Images were used to create visual reading lists.Colourful headers break up the page.Infographics and posters present. information in a visual way.

Student Feedback

Issue• I’d like Information broken

down into smaller headings.• The page isn’t clear

Solution• Used collapsed topicsto minimise information on thepage

Issues

Possible solutions

• Overcome firewall issues by creating a study skills play list on institutional YouTube channel.

• Encourage student engagement by referring to VLE page in workshops, support sessions and when providing written feedback.

• Embed study skills resources in the students subject VLE area

What would you do?

Activity: How would you develop an accessible online course?

Lightbulb moment

Reflection: How can you use what you have learnt in this session to enhance your future practice?

Help sheets

Birbeck University of London has produced a number of guides on how to create accessible online learning. These can be accessed through their website - http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/disability-support/support-for-bbk/accessible-learning-materials

Removing barriers: creating accessible learning

ADSHE ConferenceJune 2015Gemma Holtam, Dearne Valley College

Contact detailsEmail:gholtam@dearne-coll.ac.ukTwitter: @gemmaholtam