1. VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
Learning Systems Developer Learning Technology Unit - LIS
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

2. Structure I’M NOT A LIBRARIAN I’M NOT A DISABILITY ADVISOR
I work with both and we exist within the same wider service, The Learning and Information Service, and are managed by the same Dean.
And non of us work for one single faculty, we work across and with the whole university.
I think this is useful as it enables us to spread information and best practice to all corners of the university.
The structure of the organisation, interdepartmental relationships and flow of information from tutors and services to the student is important.
How do we get the message across to tutors and lecturers that they need to make their materials accessible?
How do we get the message across to other service staff for that matter? (ie Libraries, faculty administrators etc?)
How to we ensure the material delivered to students is accessible?
How do we filter the learning material?
Picture: Swiss National Supercomputing Centre
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

3. Bottleneck Solent’s VLE is moodle, branded as myCourse
25,000 resources on our VLE
We have 500+ staff using it
We have over 7000 student logins per week.
We have 2, and soon to be 4 e-Learning Support officers.
The sums don’t add up!
We can’t look at everything that is uploaded
Picture: Hogstopper.com
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

4. Balance It’s a balance Security, convenience vs easy access, Cost
Eg Digidocs – conflicting legal demands of CLA.
We are allowed exceptions to these rules and I see this as one of the main ways we can address the issue.
A huge amount of time and effort (=money) could be spent attempting to make all materials accessible to everyone and anyone.
Is this a good use of money?
Would this or does this inversely restrict the development of more interesting/exciting/engaging learning materials for everyone else?
Should we accept that some materials simply aren’t accessible with a bespoke alternative version created, on request, to exactly meet the users needs? But only on request.
Picture: Copyright © OPTP
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

5. Solutions? Training and Advise Courses
Technical Solutions – moodle demands alt tags.
Video/Audio needs transcripts
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

6. Solutions?
Links to library resources via the unit resources block – puts the library in control!
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

7. Assistive Technology Centres
ATCs
The disability team in Study Assistance support the individual learning needs of students with any disability, including dyslexia.
Assistive Technology in the main computer rooms and also in separate blue card ATC rooms. With help on hand.
As well as trained staff to assist in the specialist areas listed above, there is a team of three Student Advisers available at the Students 1st Information Centre.
Working in partnership with all faculties and services such as the Students’ Union, Accommodation, IT Resource Centres and the Library, their aim is to provide all the support needed to get the most out of the university.
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

8. Future Challenges
Future Learning Environments – the ‘GUI’ (graphical user interface) gets ever more visual and complex to control and interact in, with touch screens becoming more widely used.
Second Life and Web 3D environments:
Something we are looking at currently.
Solutions around use of current VLE to synch in world communication with flat text chat rooms in VLE.
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

9. Future Challenges Mobile Learning and M-Learning
iPod Touch and other touch screen interfaces.
These do not have any alternate human interface other than the touch screen.
We’re starting to use mobile devices – in the Sports Science subject area for instance – this is seen as highly advantageous to the students as they have the information at their fingertips either in the sports laboratories or gym etc. --
Interestingly, making our VLE accessible it has made it useable on mobile devices, and vice-versa. Sometimes there is a double benefit with these developments!
It comes back to the Balance
Developing interesting and engaging ways of using (appropriate) technology to enhance the learning experience with bespoke alternatives for those that need that extra support. Using technology to the best advantage of all.
Picture: Copyright © 2008 Apple Inc
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008

10. Thank You Roger Emery Learning Systems Developer
Learning Technology Unit – LIS
Southampton Solent University
VLEs and Accessibility
Roger Emery
July 2008