accessibility and the virtual learning environment november 2010 caroline breslin learning...

Accessibility and the Virtual Learning Environment

November 2010Caroline Breslin

Learning Technology Enhancement Team

• Social constructionist learning system, learning by doing, activity and community based learning(not a CMS)

• Order resources and activities by topic or week for classes

• Group-based learning

About Myplace

Why ?

• Open source – access to large user community and room for own (modular) development

• Proven track record in education• Moodle is incorporated into Myplace –

flexibility to make our system more than just Moodle

http://www.strath.ac.uk/learningtechnologyreview/outcomes/

• ‘Theme’Colours, sizes and layout of text and images

Common Issues for Disabled Students

• ‘Theme’ Colours, sizes and layout of text and images

• Navigation Cursor location indication, starting point

Common Issues for Disabled Students

• ‘Theme’ Colours, sizes and layout of text and images

• NavigationUseful starting point, indicator cursor location

• Distractions – lack of consistency, clutter,quiz timer

Common Issues for Disabled Students

• ‘Theme’ Colours, sizes and layout of text and images

• NavigationUseful starting point, indicator cursor location

• Distractions – lack of consistency, clutter,quiz timer

• Understanding informatione.g. colour coded only

Common Issues for Disabled Students

• Provision of advance reading lists• Access to information at the beginning of

Semester• Time extension for class assignment• Additional time for tests/quizzes

Making Provision for Disabled Students’ Adjustments

• Following an assessment, a University Disability Adviser may determine that an additional amount of time is required to be allocated to particular student(s) for class tests which are created as quizzes in Myplace. E.g. 15%, 25% or 50% extra time

Example of Adjustment - Additional time for tests/quizzes

Several Potential Solutions...

1. Create more than one version of the quiz; for for each group of students; groups determined by time allocation

Example of Adjustment - Additional time for tests/quizzes

Several Potential Solutions...

1. Create more than one version of the quiz; for for each group of students; groups determined by time allocation

2. Allocate ‘Ignore Time Limits’ capability to relevant students; trust/monitoring aspect for time taken, although can be checked!

Communication

Students LTE Team

TeachingStaff

DisabilityService

Questions?

?caroline.breslin@strath.ac.uk