An introduction to technology for inclusive education - motivation and key principles of digital resource authoring. This presentation was given on 25 March 2013, as part of the Teach @ Dundee induction event for new teaching staff at Dundee University.

1. Digital Inclusive
Practice
in
Learning and
Teaching
David Sloan
@sloandr
25th March 2013
Teach @ Dundee,
Photo credit: Flickr user @NathanaelB
http://www.flickr.com/photos/purecaffeine/5 Academic Induction 2012/13
399530443/

2. Digital Inclusive Practice?
• Motivations for inclusive e-learning
– The who and why
– Focus mainly on disability
• Key principles of inclusive e-learning design
– Applicable to Web, document design,
PowerPoint…
• Resources to support you
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3. 1 THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVE
DIGITAL RESOURCE DESIGN
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4. Information and communication
technology as an enabler
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5. Inclusive ICT needs thoughtful
design and implementation
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6. The importance of inclusive ICT
design and use
• Enhance quality of the learning experience
• Improve efficiency of teaching delivery and
maintenance
• Make learning experiences available to a
wider audience...earning social and financial
capital?
• Oh – and there are legal obligations
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7. Focus of ICT inclusion?
Disability Situational impairment
Vision Small screen
Black and white printout
Hearing No headphones
Quiet – or noisy – environment
Mobility/dexterity Touchscreen
Small keyboard
Wearing gloves
No mouse
Cognitive English as a second language
Multi-tasking
Tired, hungover…
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8. Assistive technology and inclusive
design
1. Assistive technology is hardware
or software used by a disabled
person…
2. Inclusive design is authoring
digital resources such that AT can
do its job of enabling access and Photo credit: Flickr user
@visualpunch
supporting interaction http://www.flickr.com/photos
/visualpunch/5201363064/
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9. 2 PRINCIPLES OF INCLUSIVE
DIGITAL RESOURCE DESIGN
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10. Inclusive digital documents and
semantic structure
Representing
document structure –
headings, lists, tables
etc – gives meaningful
structural information
that can be used by
assistive technology
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11. Accommodating visual
impairment
• Providing text alternatives for graphical
content
– Audio description for video
• Not relying on position or appearance of
content when referring to it
• Supporting flexibility in text resizing
• Suitable contrast between text and
background colour
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12. Accommodating hearing
impairment
• Captions for video
• Reducing contrast between background and
foreground audio
• Providing signed translations of audio content
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13. Accommodating mobility
impairment
• Make it possible to interact with a digital resource
without requiring use of the mouse
• Reducing demand for fine mouse control
– Clicking/double clicking on small links, buttons etc
– Complex drop-down menu structures
• Use headings, in-page links to make navigation more
efficient
• Making it obvious when a link has focus
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14. Accommodating cognitive
impairment
• Consistency in design
– Layout, appearance, terms used
• Making digital content understandable to the target
audience
– Appropriate language
– Supporting text to speech
– Designing for dyslexia – left justified text, line spacing, off-
white background
• Illustrating text with appropriate diagrams, images,
video, animation
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15. More tips: accessibility in a
lunchtime
http://www.slideshare.net/sloandr/online-learning-resource-
accessibility-in-a-lunchtime
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16. 3 SUPPORT @DUNDEE IN DIGITAL
INCLUSION
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17. Some tools for digital resource
authoring
• MS Office – for learning resource authoring
• Blackboard/MyDundee – for distributing e-learning
resources
• Additional learning technologies (e.g. Turning Point,
QuestionMark Perception)
• WordPress - for blogging
• Terminal4 – the University’s web content
management system (wCMS)
• All can be used – with care - to create inclusive
resources
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18. Digital inclusion help @Dundee
• Suggestions for using ICT to overcome barriers
present in the physical world
• Awareness and familiarity with best practice in
inclusive digital resource design
– How to use existing resources to optimise accessibility of
e-learning resources
• Evaluation of existing and prospective e-learning
resources for accessibility and usability
• Defining accessibility and usability requirements for
procured resources
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19. Web Accessibility Service @DundeeUniv
• Providing advice to staff on accessibility issues
• Accessible authoring techniques
• Evaluation and fixing issues
• Advice on procurement
• Training – Staff Development, Generic Skills,
Graduate Certificate
• Web site:
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/ics/services/web/accessibility/ and
http://blog.dundee.ac.uk/accessibility/
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20. ICS Disability Specialist
• Advice on supporting use of assistive
technology in the University
• Alternative Formats project:
– Supporting people with print disabilities by
providing content in non-text formats
– Training on accessible document creation
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21. Contact details
David Sloan (Web Accessibility Service)
dsloan@computing.dundee.ac.uk
tel 01382 385598 twitter: @sloandr
Andy McMahon (ICS Disability Support)
a.z.mcmahon@dundee.ac.uk
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