Universal Design for Online Education

2011 ◽  
pp. 1219-1251
Author(s):  
Rosangela K. Boyd ◽  
Bonnie Moulton
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Functional Ability ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Different Levels

This chapter will discuss accessibility issues related to online education. It will provide rationale for designing online courses that cater to different levels of functional ability. It will also present an overview of the challenges faced by students with disabilities in accessing and interacting with online course materials and activities. In order to address the potential barriers to full participation, national and international guidelines will be examined, with particular emphasis on their implications for specific course components. In addition, mechanisms for validation of web accessibility will be suggested and resources will be listed for those interested in obtaining further information on the topic.

Universal Design for Online Education

2004 ◽  
pp. 67-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosangela K. Boyd ◽  
Bonnie Moulton
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Functional Ability ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Different Levels

This chapter will discuss accessibility issues related to online education. It will provide rationale for designing online courses that cater to different levels of functional ability. It will also present an overview of the challenges faced by students with disabilities in accessing and interacting with online course materials and activities. In order to address the potential barriers to full participation, national and international guidelines will be examined, with particular emphasis on their implications for specific course components. In addition, mechanisms for validation of web accessibility will be suggested and resources will be listed for those interested in obtaining further information on the topic.

Designing and Teaching for Student Engagement in Online Courses Through UDL

2020 ◽  
pp. 314-329
Author(s):  
Ruby L. Owiny ◽  
Elizabeth Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Learning Modules ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Design For Learning

Any course must be goal-focused and consider the needs of all learners. However, online courses require instructors to be proactive in planning for learning. Recruiting and sustaining engagement in an online course must be carefully considered and planned for during all learning modules or units. This chapter addresses how to keep students engaged by considering their affect, the general way students feel toward their learning. Affect impacts motivation, which in turn can impact how a student persists in a course. The Universal Design for Learning principle of engagement addresses the affect through three guidelines. These guidelines are explained in this chapter with potential barriers to student learning and motivation explained as well. Furthermore, possible solutions are provided to give readers examples of ways in which they might reduce or remove barriers to engagement in their online courses.

scholarly journals The Transition Online: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Impact of COVID-19 on Students with Disabilities in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Laura E Mullins ◽  
Jennifer Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
University Experience ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Following the World Health Organization’s announcement of the global pandemic because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019, most Canadian universities transitioned to offering their courses exclusively online. One group affected by this transition was students with disabilities. Previous research has shown that the university experience for students with disabilities differs from those of their non-disabled peers. However, their unique needs are often not taken into consideration. As a result, students can become marginalized and alienated from the online classroom. In partnership with Student Accessibility Services, this research revealed the impact of the transition to online learning because of the pandemic for university students with disabilities. Students registered with Student Accessibility Services completed a survey about the effects of online learning during a pandemic on the students’ lives, education, and instructional and accommodation. It was clear from the results that online education during COVID-19 affected all aspects of the students’ lives, particularly to their mental health. This research provided a much-needed opportunity for students with disabilities to share the factors influencing their educational experience and identified recommendations instructors should consider when developing online courses to increase accessibility and improve engagement. 

The Power of the Human Face in Online Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Human Face ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Education Courses

The modern student exists in a highly technical and digitally driven educational world. Online delivery of courses and interactions, with the primary purpose of enhancing learning, and access to learning opportunities is becoming almost mainstream. Yet, despite the broad availability of online education courses and systems, the completion rates and levels of student satisfaction with online courses remains comparatively low. Studies have indicated that online students are seeking personal engagement to drive their learning. This project looked at the importance of having a human face at the heart of the online course materials to help develop a more personal level of engagement. The project, carried out between 2016 and 2018, involved a randomized control trial of 84 students, and compared two sets of course materials, for a common course topic, one with human face-based resources, and one without. The results clearly showed a significant increase in student engagement with the human face-based resources, but the learning outcomes, for those who completed, were not significantly different between the two groups.

scholarly journals Universal Design: Strategies and Examples to Assist Educators in the Classroom

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linn Jorgenson ◽  
Korey Singleton ◽  
Deborah Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
New York ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Course Material

"College can be challenging for all students, and the challenges for students with visible and invisible disabilities are even greater. According to Taylor & Colvin in About Campus, the number of students with disabilities attending institutions of higher education has increased by 20% from 2003 to 2009 (2013).  Technology can be used to transform course materials from inaccessible to accessible. Universal design (UD) was coined by architect Ronald Mace to design products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible (Vance, 2014). Universal instructional design (UID), a term used on college campuses, will potentially make it easier for students and faculty with different learning styles, students with disabilities, and international students to access course material and participate more fully in the classroom (Adams, 2013). The unspoken way an institution of higher education communicates with any underserved population is by offering a welcoming environment. Teaching and learning opportunities through universal design is an exciting new avenue through which more students will be able to participate and be successful as they pursue a agree in higher education. ReferencesAdams, M. (Eds.). (2013) Readings for diversity and social justice (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge, 98._Taylor, C.M. & Colvin K.L. (2013). Universal design: A tool to help college students with  Asperger's syndrome engage on campus. About Campus, 18(3), 9-15. doi:10.1002/abc.21118Vance, L.V. (Eds.). (2014). Beyond the Americans with disabilities act. Washington, DC: 37-8.

Fully Including Students, Teachers, and Administrators with Disabilities in Telementoring

2010 ◽  
pp. 89-115
Author(s):  
Sheryl Burgstahler ◽  
Terrill Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Classroom Practices ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
School Environments ◽  
Full Inclusion ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Secondary Classroom ◽  
Technology Specialists ◽  
Informal Settings

The authors of this chapter discuss challenges that must be addressed to ensure the full inclusion of teachers, administrators, and students with disabilities in telementoring activities in elementary and secondary school environments. Potential barriers to participation relate to the physical environment, the technology used to support a telementoring program, and communication strategies within that environment. Solutions presented to address access challenges employ both universal design and accommodation approaches. The content of this chapter may be useful to administrators, teachers, and technology specialists as they integrate telementoring into elementary and secondary classroom practices; to professionals who seek to promote telementoring in formal and informal settings; and to researchers who wish to identify telementoring topics for further study.

Removing the Disability from Distance Education

2014 ◽  
pp. 156-168
Author(s):  
Christina Yuknis
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Instructional Design ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Education Courses

Students with disabilities are increasingly opting to take distance education courses. As a result, many courses are not prepared to adequately meet the needs of their students. This chapter provides an overview of the main accessibility issues, including the delay in technology use and adaptation and assistive technology integration for people with disabilities in distance education courses. To mitigate these issues, a framework for instructional design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), is presented. UDL is a set of three principles that, when applied from the beginning of the course design, can reduce the need for later modifications or accommodations. Instructors may use UDL to ensure that the course is accessible, not just for students with disabilities, but for all students in the course.

scholarly journals Distance Education Accessibility and Quality Assurance

10.28945/3320 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia David
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
The United States ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Practical Consideration ◽  
Academic Accommodation ◽  
Accessibility Guidelines

This presentation will discuss some of the current statistics regarding distance education in the United States. It will also address how student disabilities (and their associated accommodations) are and should be impacting these online course offerings. According to a recent government study, 66% of US colleges currently offer some form of for-credit distance education (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2008). In 2007 more than 20% of higher education students were enrolled in at least one online course, and the 2007 online enrollments were 245% that of the online enrollment seen in 2002 (Allen & Seaman, 2008). These educational studies have revealed what most educators already knew: online education is becoming increasingly important to colleges nationwide. The number of online courses continues to increase, and larger numbers of students are taking significant portions of their coursework online. Students reporting disabilities (and requesting accommodation) have also been increasing. Eleven percent of undergraduates have reported or registered as having a disability (NCES, 2006). The 11% statistic suggests that at least 2.2% of the online student population are also students with disabilities, and that 2.2% is likely to be too low because the flexibly offered by online courses is likely to appeal to students with disabilities. Ensuring accessibility in online courses, therefore, is clearly a practical consideration. Education studies have also revealed that some schools aren’t doing all that they can or should to ensure accessibility. Schools were asked how commonly they received requests for academic accommodation. Nearly a quarter of the schools responding didn’t know whether or not requests of this type were ever received (NCES, 2008). Another study tracked how closely accessibility guidelines for online course web sites were followed. Nearly half of the schools reported only moderate to minor application of the guidelines while over one-third of the schools either didn’t follow any of the guidelines or were unaware if guidelines were being followed (NCES, 2003).

scholarly journals Strategies to Increase Online Student Success for Students with Disabilities

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Betts ◽  
Alex Cohen ◽  
Daniel Veit ◽  
Henry C. Alphin ◽  
Chanel Broadus
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
Online Programs ◽  
Online Student ◽  
Certificate Programs ◽  
Teaching Learning

Online education provides extensive opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enroll in degree and certificate programs. However, accessibility must be a key component of online program development since this can have a profound affect on student engagement in and outside of the online classroom, academic performance, and completion rates. This article provides a unique perspective on accessibility in online education. One current online student and three alumni of online programs provide video self-introductions, an overview of their online experience., and strategies for increasing student success in online courses and programs for students with disabilities. Strategies are also shared for integrating accessibility as a critical component within faculty development to ensure accessibility goes beyond the Office of Disability Services and becomes an integral part of online teaching, learning, and assessment.

Removing the Disability from Distance Education

2016 ◽  
pp. 254-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Yuknis
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Instructional Design ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Education Courses

Students with disabilities are increasingly opting to take distance education courses. As a result, many courses are not prepared to adequately meet the needs of their students. This chapter provides an overview of the main accessibility issues, including the delay in technology use and adaptation and assistive technology integration for people with disabilities in distance education courses. To mitigate these issues, a framework for instructional design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), is presented. UDL is a set of three principles that, when applied from the beginning of the course design, can reduce the need for later modifications or accommodations. Instructors may use UDL to ensure that the course is accessible, not just for students with disabilities, but for all students in the course.

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