We Could Be Heroes: Ensuring Accessibility in Online Courses

Concurrent Session 6
Streamed Session Equity and Inclusion

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Session Materials

Brief Abstract

This session will focus on one’s institution’s process for ensuring accessibility in online courses. From exploring proactive approaches like UDL in course design to creating reactive strategies for current course remediation, participants will learn about establishing a process, or improving an existing process, for identifying and resolving student accessibility issues.

Presenters

Since 2015, Robyn Brown has led the faculty engagement and E-Campus Collaborative for Online Education (ECCOE) initiatives through her role with Regionals E-Campus at Miami University (Oxford). Although she has spent her entire career as an educator, she has not always worked in higher education. Robyn developed her skills and talents in education and leadership through an unconventional career trajectory: in Air Force officer training, K-12 classrooms, zoos and aquariums, contract work for the state, and traveling to far off places worldwide. Despite where life takes her, Robyn is driven by a deeply rooted sense of purpose: committed to helping others, spreading kindness, and doing her part to make the world a better place. Robyn is a powerful force, using her life experience, positive attitude, and tireless energy to encourage others to advance online learning at Miami and beyond. When not hard at work, Robyn enjoys outdoor adventures, travel, fitness, trying new things, and spending time with family and friends.

Extended Abstract

While online courses may increase the availability of education for many, the accessibility of these learning experiences is often an unfortunate afterthought. This session will focus on one’s institution’s process for ensuring accessibility in online courses. From exploring proactive approaches like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in course design to creating reactive strategies for current online course remediation, participants will learn more about how to establish a process, or improve their existing process, for identifying and resolving student accessibility issues.

Takeaway:

As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to:

  • Identify common accessibility errors 

  • Use Canvas integrations to check for course accessibility

  • Recognize an effective system for remediation 

  • Discuss challenges and opportunities for improvement