What is web accessibility in learning?

Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web.” (W3C, 2005).

The W3C includes the following types of disabilities in its consideration of designing for accessibility: Visual disability,

• Hearing Impairment
• Physical (motor) Disability
• Speech Disability
• Cognitive and Neurological Disability (including learning disability and seizure disorders, for example), multiple disabilities, and aging-related conditions (W3C, 2005).

The Development efforts for accessible Learning Products should focus on these low-incidence disabilities.

The four accessibility features described below comprise the foundation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 AA. Ideally, a learning product design should include these features to provide a complete experience for students with vision impairments.

1. Users can navigate the content using only the keyboard. Users of mobile devices can navigate using the touch screen in screen-reader-mode.
2. The content and structure can be understood by a person using a screen reader like NVDA, JAWS, iOS Voiceover, Android Talkback and Chromevox on Chromebooks.
3. Text equivalents for all non-text media. This includes captions for video, audio transcripts, and alternative descriptions for images, animations, and videos.
4. All visual presentations follow the WCAG 2.0 AA visual guidelines.

Here are some examples of accessible content created by Magic Software:

Color Contrast

http://magicwebs.magicsw.com/seg/DLOSamples/Mathematics2/index.html

Drag and Drop, Access Keys

https://dev.opera.com/articles/accessible-drag-and-drop/example.html

Access Keys, Closed Captioning

http://accessiblewebsitedesignexamples.com/accessible-gallery.php#content

Video Captioning

http://magicwebs.magicsw.com/seg/accessibilitysamples/videos/5_6_1_am1/5_6_1_am1.html

Accessibility Solutions

It is now a requirement for digital education products to be accessible or WCAG compliant. The online learning world is focussing on learning opportunities for all, and focussing on students with disabilities. Technology has opened many doors in all spheres of life, and education should make maximum use of its capacity to teach as effectively as possible.

Individuals with physical disabilities need a customized type of environment where they can gather knowledge at their own speed. They need a congenial environment where they can interact or engage with the educator in a comfortable way and find out how they are doing. And this is the scenario where accessibility solutions come as a great boon to them. They offer them the right platform to pursue their academic courses and enhance their knowledge.
Ideally, a Learning Product design should include these features to provide a complete experience for students with vision impairments.

1. Users can navigate the content using only the keyboard. Users of mobile devices can navigate using the touch screen in screen-reader-mode.
2. The content and structure can be understood by a person using a screen reader like NVDA, JAWS, iOS Voiceover, Android Talkback and Chromevox on Chromebooks.
3. Text equivalents for all non-text media. This includes captions for video, audio transcripts, and alternative descriptions for images, animations, and videos.
4. All visual presentations follow the WCAG 2.0 AA visual guidelines.

Magic Software employs the best authors, instructional designers, and UX designers in the world and many of them are familiar with the principles of Universal Design for Learning. These authors and designers may decide to apply UDL when creating content and products, or they may decide to go in another direction.

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Transformation in Education

Over the past few years, teaching and learning have changed drastically. Whereas, earlier the method was of learning only what the teacher taught with the help of textbooks. The revolution of change has come about with the evolution of the internet and innovations to support digital learning with the help of interactive content. Now, not only can you study on your computer, you can study or your tablet, and even your phone.

The trend now is to study everything online and find various course materials to support that learning. One can’t make do with just the use of textbooks, and multiple teaching materials are required to study. They are getting more involved with interactive content development to make content crisp, simple and interactive. Interactive content development helps in the accessibility of content, by choosing the format the learner wants to use.  The learner can choose to watch a video, read about the subject, and even perform an experiment online rather than having to go to a physical lab. Virtual Labs are the new wave in learning and are being used widely.

One can decide to make almost any kind of content interactive, in any language or subject. Interactivity is the key to effective learning.

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E-Learning Myths Busted

As the world is gradually shifting from traditional classroom to a more connected, global learning network, the term e-learning is gaining recognition all over the world. However, for many people, the fear of the unknown still clouds their vision, and they still view e-learning as an alien concept. Many still look at e-learning with a mixture of worry and trepidation, since most people are not fully aware of its benefits. As with any other nascent idea or concept, e-learning is also underscored by countless myths, which make it hard for newbies to experience virtual learning. The sooner these myths are debunked, the earlier e-learning will attract more people. Here are a few myths that are completely untrue about e-learning:

E-Learning is only about technology

This is a common yet one of the inaccurate myths. The primary objective of e-learning is the transmission of knowledge, concepts, and ideas around a central theme. In this case, technology takes a backseat. It only exists to facilitate the learning process for a student, which means that it acts only as a conduit for the learning process. The content determines how effective and interesting a course is, and addresses the “why’” and “what” of the same for students. In simpler words, technology is concerned with the “how” to present concepts, and doesn’t really have much to do with the “what” of the content. Therefore, the more compelling the content of a course is, the more likely are the chances of people wanting to take up that course. Additionally, the content of an e-learning course is often far more superior than that of a traditional, instructor-led course. Some of these e-courses also offer certifications.

Teachers will be replaced

It is fairly understandable as to why this myth exists in the first place – it could be hard to understand why a teacher is needed at all for a course that is delivered online. Although, it is also worth mentioning that a traditional teacher’s role has now undergone a sea of change along with the various teaching methods. Today, in terms of e-learning, a teacher is expected and required to facilitate online sessions, provide online coaching, guidance, and feedback to students, with the help of video chat and email to understand the needs of students. Another facet of e-learning is something called blended learning, which ensures that teachers are not replaced. Blended learning, as the name goes, aids the blending of teachers with e-learning methods to provide a well-rounded learning experience to students.

E-Learning is impersonal

Today, students all over the world are not only studying, they’re also participating in extra-curricular activities, taking up jobs, gaining work experience, and much more. Amidst the plethora of these activities, these students still feel the need to learn an important skill set, but simply do not have the time to attend another class. In such a case, they turn to e-learning, which is a convenient way to acquire other skills. In any case, e-learning is far from impersonal. On the contrary, it seems to be bringing together like minded students from all over the world. With e-learning, students are collaborating with each other using social networks, and the global scale of the e-learning effort is coming to fruition.

Why are Digital Publishing Platforms gaining so much importance?

In the age of stunning displays, fast speed Internet and fast speed processing capabilities, digital publishing platforms have been able to connect audiences at a speed that traditional publishing mediums could never hope to. Studies show that students all over the world spend at least 4 to 5 hours every day on the Internet. They are accessing the Internet to find information relevant to their courses and knowledge enrichment.

The digital publishing platform allow content developers and publishers to combine engaging content and technology to ensure relevant information is provided to the right audience at the right time. They provide limitless opportunities to engage audiences and are far more cost-effective than traditional methods. 

Content publishers are faced with many choices when mapping out their digital publishing strategy. But they have to keep a few trends in mind if they want to reap the real benefits of publishing their content on a digital marketing platform.  If done right, digital publishing can bring you great returns. You need to make sure your content is rich because audiences are looking for content that will add value to the reading and learning experiences. You should introduce content that includes videos, appealing animations, interactive diagrams and illustrations. Premium educational content will be more effective, helping you build a robust online audience.  

The important message to remember is digital publishing market will continue to evolve. You need to stay abreast with the latest updates in this arena if you want to have an edge in your target market.

Software with Universal Design for high Quality Accessibility

Accessibility is an important quality attribute of software and web apps. Unfortunately it is often get neglected when we do system architecture, design and implementation.

In a 2001 survey which evaluated products of 25 award winning companies which produce pre college instructional software, only two companies were aware about accessibility issues. There is lot changed in past 15 years, but still miles to go before we reach at satisfactory level for accessibility issues.

It is a general practice to develop web or normal app by keeping average user's characteristics in mind. But when we design software which satisfy the need of people with wide range of disabilities and abilities, it is called universal design for software.

Universal design are bunch of ideas which can apply in product, building and environment, so they can be easily accessible by older people and people with/without disabilities.

Here we will put light on the process and principle of universal design in context to web apps and general software development. We believe following it will help in increasing our horizon of building better and accessible software.

Universal Software Design Process

 

Process of universal design for software involves high level view of software as well as its components. Few important steps of the process listed below:

(1) Understand Software - Understanding of the application where we wanted to apply the universal design is key for its success.

(2) Define Universe - We should describe the overall population (e.g., users of software), and then describe the diverse characteristics of potential members of the population for which the application is designed (e.g., students, faculty, and staff with diverse characteristics with respect to gender; age; size; ethnicity and race; native language; learning style; and abilities to see, hear, manipulate objects, read, and communicate).

(3) Involve End users - Consider and involve people with diverse characteristics (as identified in Step 2) in all phases of the development, implementation, and evaluation of the application. Also gain perspectives through diversity programs, such as special disability help and support centre. Make these processes known with appropriate signage, publications, and websites.

(4) Identify guidelines & standards - Create or select existing universal design guidelines/standards for web and native app development. Integrate them with other best practices. In some countries following accessibility standard is legal obligation For e.g.. if we are building web application we should follow WAG (Web Accessibility Guideline) and other standards.

(5) Apply guidelines or standards - Apply universal design in software with best practices within the application, as identified in Step 4, to the overall design of the application, all subcomponents of the application, and all ongoing operations (e.g., staff training) to maximize the benefit of the application to individuals with the wide variety of characteristics identified in Step 2.

(6) Plan for accommodations - When we implement software we should provide facility to address accommodation requests (e.g., purchase of assistive technology, arrangement for Braille printers) from individuals for whom the design of the application does not automatically provide access.

(7) Train & Support - Tailor and deliver ongoing training and support to stakeholders  with emphasis on accessibility features.

(8) Evaluate - We should periodically evaluate the implementation of universal design measures. We should involve diverse group of users, and make modifications based on feedback. We should place ways to collect input from users.

  

Universal Software Design Principles

 

Universal design principles for software guide in designing accessible software. Few of the important design principles are listed below:

(1) Equitable use - The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. For example, a website that is designed to be accessible to everyone, including people who are blind and use screen reader technology, employs this principle.

(2) Flexibility in use - The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. For e.g. Video with flexibility to display caption can enable user to listen or read audio.

(3) Simple and Intuitive - Use of the design is easy to understand software, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. For e.g. simple and intuitive control buttons/links in a audio player web app.

(4) Fault Tolerance - The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. An e.g. Software applications that provide guidance when the user makes an inappropriate selection for all kind of users.

We have left out three universal design principles like Perceptible information, low physical effort and size and space for approach and usage. These principals are more suitable to physical products.

Conclusion

Why we are very far from reality in building software which should be accessible to all different kinds of end user?  It is not the lack of theories, principles or standards but it lack of consciences to incorporate those in software development process. Once we will start using design principles like Universal Design we will able to produce better accessible software for differently enabled people.

For more details visit us – www.magicsw.com