Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses

1. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses

2. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses Alternative Titles: • The Accidental Architect • Access Denied! • Anytime, Anywhere….For Anyone? • They Do It Better In Bangladesh

3. 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” Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses

4. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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

5. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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

6. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses It’s the LAW • Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, Department of Justice amendments 1996 • Section 508 of Vocational Rehabilitation Act • South Carolina Website Accessibility Policy and Transition Plan http://www.access-sc.org/standards.shtml

7. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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.

8. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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.

9. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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

10. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses • 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

11. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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

12. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses • 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

13. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses 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

14. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses • 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

15. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses • 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

16. Priority 1 Accessibility Errors

17. Universal Design of Instruction for Online 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

18. Universal Design of Instruction for Online 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

19. Universal Design of Instruction for Online 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

20. Universal Design of Instruction for Online 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.

21. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses • 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

22. Universal Design of Instruction for Online Courses • 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

23. Inaccessible Fonts Colonna MT algerian Col al Old English Text Blackadder ITC Y IT Bl