assistive technology - tapping the potential

Unlocking Potential

Tapping the potential

making e-learning work twice.

Unlocking Potential

What’s in a name?

• E-learning• IT• Inclusion• Accessibility• Disability

Activity – identify

the accessibility benefits in….

Unlocking Potential

TechDis research - 1

• 7 major disability advice organisations.• What do you wish they said?

• 10% sample of English FE websites.• What do they say?

Unlocking Potential

TechDis research - 2

7 major disability advice organisations.

Staff Training and Awareness

Actively Involving Learners

Effective Transition Planning

Effective Use of Technology

Alternative Formats

IT / eLearning implications?

Accessible resources.

Resources / activities.

Assessment of need.

IT / VLE / Assistive technology.

Curriculum and staff development.

Unlocking Potential

Mention of technology

Useful

Vague

Not mentioned

Mention of resources

Generic

Specific ALS

Vague

None

50% learning materials on VLE. More accessible learning materials  

Teaching and learning, inclusive learning award

Redesigning of learning materials where necessary 

Supporting inclusion in the classroom training sessions. 

AT loans, AT assessment, IT infrastructure, AT training  

TechDis research - 3

Unlocking Potential

Key opportunities

• Alternative formats derive from accessibility good practice.• Eg. Structured Word document

• Document map• MindMap• MP3 • DAISY

• Varied learning experiences optimise confidence and competence.

• Software tools can support all learners.

Unlocking Potential

Key opportunities 1/3

• Alternative formats derive from accessibility good practice.

Example document.

Unlocking Potential

Key opportunities 2/3

• Varied learning experiences optimise confidence and competence.

Example resources –

Camstudio (1, 2, 3); Wink; Audacity.File sizes (Mb) 0.3 20 8 0.4 0.4

Unlocking Potential

Key opportunities 3/3

• Software tools can support all learners.

Example software:

DSpeech; LetMeType; WordWeb5.

Unlocking Potential

Simple example of added value.

TechDis research for Senior Manager Briefings:

Less than 60% surveyed had a DES online.

Two thirds of the statements were in PDF format with most of the remainder in Microsoft® Word.

% PDFs with bookmark navigation – 0

% DESs with advice on accessibility - 0

Unlocking Potential

Key conclusions

• The things that make a difference to disabled learners are

Staff Training and AwarenessActively Involving LearnersEffective Transition PlanningEffective Use of TechnologyAlternative Formats

• These all have strong correlations to effective and well planned e-learning infrastructures.

• The key costs are not purchases but training for staff and learners.

• TechDis has a wide range of supporting resources for staff development and strategic planning.

Unlocking Potential

Key references

TechDis Senior Manager Briefings www.techdis.ac.uk/getbriefings

TechDis Accessibility Essentials series

www.techdis.ac.uk/accessibilityessentials

TechDis Staff Packs

www.techdis.ac.uk/staffpacks