universal design of instruction for online courses

Universal Design of Instruction for Online

Courses

Alternative Titles:

The Accidental Architect Access Denied! Anytime, Anywhere….For Anyone? They Do It Better In Bangladesh

Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses

Universal Design = Barrier Free Accessible to the widest selection of

participants possible The “virtual equivalent” of wheelchair ramps “Cyber curb cuts” Individual characteristics are even less visible

in online interaction; struggling may be less apparent to instructor

Instructor/course designer as “architect”



It’s the EQUITABLE thing to do.

Anytime, anywhere…..anyone Access is the basis of online/distance

learning Ensure access to the widest possible

segment of the population

It’s the ECONOMICALLY SENSIBLE thing to do.

Proactive planning costs less than reactive intervention and retrofitting

High cost of producing alternative versions of instructional materials


It’s the LAW

Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, Department of Justice amendments 1996

Section 508 of Vocational Rehabilitation Act

South Carolina Website AccessibilityPolicy and Transition Plan

http://www.access-sc.org/standards.shtml


http://www.access-sc.org/standards.shtml

A summary of the Target/NFB settlement Target makes no admission or concession that its website is or

ever was inaccessible. Target admits no violations of the ADA or any other law. The website will be brought into compliance and will be

certified by NFB as compliant. NFB will monitor compliance over 3 years from initial certification.

Target will pay NFB $90,000 for the certification and first year of monitoring and then $40,000 per year thereafter.

Target’s web developers will receive at least one day of accessibility training, to be provided by NFB at a cost of up to $15,000 per session.

Target will respond to accessibility complaints from web site users.

Target will pay damages of $6,000,000 to the class action claimants, or at most $7000 per claimant, and will pay $20,000 to the California Center for the Blind on behalf of the primary claimant, Bruce Sexton, Jr.

Payment of legal fees is yet to be determined.


http://topendsports.com/clipart/pics/albums/other/target_practice.gif

It’s the SELFISH thing to do.

With advancing age, senses grow weaker, including eyesight; mobility decreases

We will all benefit from a barrier-free information infrastructure

Increase your reach.


Access Issues

First-Generation Access Issues: HTML Accessibility Section 508 standards cover HTML

accessibility Second-Generation Access Issues

Accessibility to non-HTML elements E.g. slideshows, videos, animations,

spreadsheets, charts, tables, PDF documents Suggested Tools and Techniques


Blindness Audible output: Screen reader software, speech

synthesizer Tactile output: Braille refreshable display Text alternatives to images are vital Alternatives to frames, applets, plug-ins, pop-ups, forms

Limited Vision Screen magnification software Read small portion of webpage at a time Sans-serif fonts that do not pixellate or distort Clear, simple design Page layout consistent, uncluttered Colorblindness; No dependence on color


Benefits those without visual impairments:

No immediate access to graphics Text-based browsers Low bandwidth, dial-up telephone lines Disabled graphics decrease download times, conserve

memory, fit better in small browser window Monitor/screen with poor resolution Web-enabled devices/Voice web or web portal

systems Text-to-speech web access via telephone or car

Monochrome monitors or green screens High-contrast foreground/background colors

appeals to most


Hearing Impairments Audio output must have captions or

transcriptions Course videotapes or DVDs must have print

equivalent “Real time” communication may be difficult Chat, telephone conference or

videoconference may be slower due to slower processing

Student’s first language may be ASL, mirror print disability


Benefits those without hearing impairments:

Poor auditory reception Inadequate sound hardware Accessing from a noisy environment

Captioned multimedia allows content to be indexed and archived; searched

Transcriptions provide all users with multi-sensory information input


Mobility Impairments May use assistive technology alternatives

Alternative keyboard and/or mouse Head pointer or mouth stick Eye-gaze tracking system

Small buttons on screen require fine motor skills

Real-time communication may be difficult, slower

Speech Impairments Difficulty with interactive videoconferencing


Seizure Disorders May be aggravated by flickers on screen Animated gifs, HTML marquee, Macromedia

Flash

Benefits those without seizure impairments:

Flashing graphics/animations can be distracting and annoying


Priority 1 Accessibility Errors

Images, applets, maps w/o alternative textImage map hotspots w/o alternative text

Frames (not usable w/o frames-capable browser)Image-type buttons

Content in new windows or pop-up windowsNo redundant text links for server-side imagesNavigation problems

Color-dependence


Courses Problems with the use of White Boards:

Incompatible with screen readers Incompatible with screen Small buttons on

screen require fine motor skills Problems with the use of New

Windows/multiple frames Untitled, navigation difficult through screen reader

Problems with the use of graphics Alternative text necessary for non-visual users Graphics used as buttons/hyperlinks Graphics that flash or are animated


Courses Problems with the use of Testing/Quiz

tools Students with extended time for testing Screen readers causing computer to crash

during testing

Problems with the use of Real-Time Chat Chat CMS often incompatible with screen

readers Length of processing time/response time

Problems with place-bound requirements Accessibility requirements apply


Courses WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility

Guidelines) 1.1 Text Alternatives: Provide text alternatives for any

non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols, or simpler language

1.2 Time-based Media: Provide alternatives for time-based media.

1.3 Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing information or structure

1.4 Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background

2.1 Keyboard Accessible: Make all functionality available from a keyboard

2.2 Enough Time: Provide users enough time to read and use content

2.3 Seizures: Do not design content in a way that is known to cause


Courses WCAG 2.0

2.4 Navigable: Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are

3.1 Readable: Make text content readable and understandable

3.2 Predictable: Make Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.

3.3 Input Assistance: Help users avoid and correct mistakes.

4.1 Compatible: Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.

Free websites that test accessibility of online material Etre WAVE 4.0 from WebAIM A-Prompt Cynthia Says (Bobby)

Color Blindness Simulator Color Laboratory GrayBit (checks contrast)

Flicker Rate Test for Photosensitive Epilepsy


Example of inaccessible website design:

E:\margaret's site\bad\index.html

Example of more accessible website design:

E:\margaret's site\good\index.html


Inaccessible Fonts Colonna MT algerian

Col alOld English Text Blackadder ITC

Y IT Bl

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