ERIC Number: EJ1018300
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Oct
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1939-5256
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Programmatic, Systematic, Automatic: An Online Course Accessibility Support Model
Bastedo, Kathleen; Sugar, Amy; Swenson, Nancy; Vargas, Jessica
Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, v17 n3 p87-102 Oct 2013
Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of requests for online course material accommodations at the University of Central Florida (UCF). In response to these requests, UCF's Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) formed new teams, reevaluated its processes, and initiated a partnership with UCF's Student Disability Services (SDS) office to address these needs. This article presents the Online Course Accessibility Support Model that was developed and implemented by CDL. This model was designed to provide a scalable and programmatic approach to creating accessible online course materials. It identifies the following three strategies to address these needs: (1) teach faculty Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles through professional development programs regarding the ways in which UDL relates to accessible online materials for new courses; (2) provide legacy faculty members with the opportunity to update their existing online course materials to accommodate diverse learners; and (3) expedite accommodations for online course materials to address immediate needs (e.g., situations in which a student registered with SDS is currently enrolled in an online course that contains some inaccessible materials). As a result of implementing this model, communication between CDL and SDS improved, roles related to making course materials accessible were defined, and students gained access to accessible online course materials more quickly.
Descriptors: Online Courses, Academic Accommodations (Disabilities), Access to Education, Faculty Development, College Faculty, Student Personnel Services, Systems Approach, Models
Sloan Consortium. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. e-mail: publisher@sloanconsortium.org; Web site: http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/jaln_main
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A