Creating Inclusive Learning Materials

Outline 1.Highlight main barriers to learning 2.Listen to student perspectives on accessible learning 3.Focus on the importance of designing learning materials to meet the needs of a range of learners 4.Consider some techniques in creating universally designed learning materials

Barriers Barriers What kind of disability related barriers might I come across? Specific Learning Difficulties Physical/motor/medical Sensory (visual or hearing difficulties)visualhearing Mental Health Problems Learning disabilities Click on the underlined text for more information

Dyslexia What does it look like to read written text if you are dyslexic? Online Guide to Dyslexia Click on the images for more information

DDA/SENDA Duty not to discriminate against students with disabilities Or place learners at a substantial disadvantage Important to make reasonable adjustments These adjustments must be anticipatory Click on the image for more information

Reasonable adjustment Due to a respiratory condition, Terry is confined to his house for large periods of the year. He was able to complete his course entirely from online material combined with regular e- mailing of work, and regular telephone and responses from the course tutor. As Terry lives roughly 7 miles from the college it was possible his tutor to visit on a regular basis. These face-to-face sessions complemented the online and distance learning. Click on the image for more guidance

Technology as a Solution Recording lecturesAdapted Keyboards Word processor/PDA Reading Pens Magnifiers Voice recognition

Commercially Available Assistive Technologies Texthelp Read and Write Gold follow the link down the page to ‘Visualise and Present Concepts’ at Abingdon and Witney College Inspiration Mind Mapping software Dragon Naturally Speaking Zoomtext JAWS Kurzweil To find out more about any of these products, simply click on the relevant software

Freely Available Assistive Technologies Freely Available Assistive Technologies Natural Reader Help Read Read Please Browsealoud Readspeaker For more information follow this link to the RSC Scotland South & West website and look at the accessibility sectionFor more information follow this link to the RSC Scotland South & West website and look at the accessibility section; please note the accessibility adviser has been funded by the Scottish Funding Council

Built-in Accessibility Options Click on the logos for more information

Accessibility for All Individual Differences Academic Ability Learning Style Ethnicity And Culture Socio- Economic Status Disability Motivation To Learn Prior Knowledge And Skills The Learning Environment **

Creating Inclusive Learning Materials Images Sound Interactivity

Images can act as a visual stimulus Image courtesy of TechDis Click on the image to see an example

Using sound to promote multi-sensory learning Who benefits? Dyslexic learners English as a Second Language Auditory learners

Using sound in learning materials Click on the image to see an example

Using sound Using sound in learning materials Click on the image to see an example

Interactivity Using hyperlinks Click on this link to find out more

Interactivity Interactivity Using Drop Down Menus

Interactivity Interactivity Using Drag and Drop

Layout - Styles and Formatting Click on the image to see an example

E-Learning- Problem or Solution? Dyslexia Multi-media/multi-sensory. Changing font and colour options. Text to speech and speech to text. Reading large amounts of text might be difficult for some. Images, animation, glossaries, SMS, or video.glossaries, Sound will be a problem. Resizable text & imagery will help improve access. Text to speech and audio can also enhance learning. Video, animation, and imagery may be difficult. Voice recognition, ergonomic/adapted mouse or keyboard devices. Fine control. Repeatability, feedback can add immediacy to the learning experience. Tracking and progression of learning. Poor navigation, poor design, crashes. Hearing Vision Motor Cognitive + Benefit - Barrier Ref:

Activities

Click on the image to view guidelines Ten Top Tips! Guidelines for creating accessible e-learning content

One Thing to Remember! None of these developments and changes in designing your material will completely guarantee accessibility Human intervention is compulsory – ask the student and work together to find solutions to their barrier to learning

References JISC RSC Scotland South & East Accessibility Information Page Access all Areas Inclusive Learning and Teaching: ILT for Disabled Learners Creating an accessible curricula Teachability Accessible Design – Myths Exploded!

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