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