University of Durham VLE: Valuable Learning Experience Gabriel Jezierski 

University of Durham VLE: Valuable Learning Experience Gabriel Jezierski 

University of Durham VLE: Valuable Learning Experience Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001) & Gabriel Jezierski 

 4 Overview Special Educational Needs and Disability Act [2001] Work with Bb on compliance What SENDA (2001)/compliance means What UWIC has done with Blackboard Current position with Blackboard SENDA COMPLIANCE

 5 Work with Bb Special Educational Needs and Disability Act [2001] What is SENDA ? –1. Legislation - Act 2001 –2. Code of Practice (url: –Sent to Reidy Brown, Bb to compare with Section 508 US Rehabilitation Act (url SENDA COMPLIANCE

 6 Work with Bb Special Educational Needs and Disability Act [2001] BASIC PRINCIPLES? –Educational institutions required: to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ not to treat disabled students less favourably to act in an ‘anticipatory’ capacity - not ad hoc SENDA COMPLIANCE

 7 What does compliance mean? (General) SENDA COMPLIANCE IMPLICATIONS? –Policies and practice (e.g. L&T/ Widening Access /Web Design/Estates policy) –QAA + Programme Specifications (QAA Code of Practice on Students with Disabilities: Precept 8) where modular material is up online (e.g. Bb) –IT support/infrastructure to assist disabled students (assistive technology) –Student Complaints procedures (non compliance Governing bodies)

 8 What does compliance mean? (For Blackboard) SENDA COMPLIANCE IMPLICATIONS? All resources (i.e. including online) are accessible to students with disabilities/ learning difficulties –dyslexia –blind/visually impaired –hearing impaired –motor difficulties

 9 What does compliance mean? (For Blackboard) SENDA COMPLIANCE

 10 What does compliance mean? (For Blackboard) SENDA COMPLIANCE

 11 What does compliance mean? (On-line learning / resources?) SENDA COMPLIANCE If using teaching tools online (e.g. Blackboard) lecturers must consider: –accessibility of the tools (e.g. discussion forum, virtual chat, (whiteboard)) –issues surrounding online assessments (e.g. timed tests /assignments) + assessment tools (e.g. Perception) –submission of work (Jaws does not recognise ‘Browse’ button) GUIDELINES

 12 What does compliance mean? (On-line learning / resources?) SENDA COMPLIANCE Implications? –Staff aware of SENDA? (QAA precepts?) –Build in at the design stage/staff development stage –Programme Specification (Validation) –Staff/Web Developers should validate work, –e.g. Bobby check, –conformance W3C standards (url GUIDELINES

 13 What we did with Bb? SENDA COMPLIANCE Liaison with Reidy Brown, Senior Software Engineer, Washington Production of 5 minute Guide - validated by Reidy Brown Section on Blackboard (in Accessible Curricula:Good Practice Guide ( Posting to TechDis (Technology and disability issues) Working UK HE community /Collaboration with other Institutions: –Salford SURFACE project (Adrian Higginbotham) –TECHSHARE Birmingham Conference (RNIB + VLEs)

 14 Does Blackboard have … ? SENDA COMPLIANCE

 15 Does Blackboard have … ? SENDA COMPLIANCE Alternative text: ‘Alt’ tag provide an alternative for pictures for screen reading software

Position with Bb? ( currently not fully compliant) SENDA COMPLIANCE Virtual chat, (whiteboard) Impossible for screen reader to use because of Java

Position with Bb? ( currently not fully compliant) SENDA COMPLIANCE Virtual chat, (whiteboard) ‘Submit work’ button Impossible for screen reader to use because of Java Screen reader (Jaws 3.7) has difficulty reading this button ‘Browse’?

Position with Bb? ( currently not fully compliant) SENDA COMPLIANCE Virtual chat, (whiteboard) ‘Submit work’ button Online assessments Impossible for screen reader to use because of Java Screen reader (Jaws 3.7) has difficulty reading this button ‘Browse’? Colour /Answers in Table issues

 19 Position with Bb? ( currently not fully compliant) SENDA COMPLIANCE Online assessments Issues: –Colour buttons red (yes)/blue (no) buttons –Tables - answers in tables

Position with Bb? (UWIC work-arounds) SENDA COMPLIANCE Virtual chat, (whiteboard) Student can go into archived chat transcripts

Position with Bb? (UWIC work-arounds) SENDA COMPLIANCE Virtual chat, (whiteboard) ‘Submit work’ button Student can go into archived chat transcripts Ensure students submit work via attachment ‘Browse’?

Position with Bb? (UWIC work-arounds) SENDA COMPLIANCE Virtual chat, (whiteboard) ‘Submit work’ button Online assessments Student can go into archived chat transcripts Ensure students submit work via attachment ‘Browse’? Provide alternatives !

 23 Current UWIC activity SENDA COMPLIANCE Working strategically (Dis. Prov Dev Plan) Quality Enhancement (Programme Specifications) Staff awareness –Distribution of Accessible Curricula Guide to staff –Training workshops for all UWIC staff using Bb –Continued collaboration with other Institutions Reviewing/Updating Web Policy (include W3C accessibility standards) On-going collaboration with Bb regarding: –‘workarounds’ –improved accessibility in Version 6.0

 24 Is Blackboard SENDA compliant Version ? SENDA COMPLIANCE

 25 Further info... LTSU Carol Doyle