Accessibility, eLiteracy and Virtual Learning Envirnoments
Sue Lobb
The Royal National College for the Blind
UK
Paper: 1/2 hour
Convergence & Continuity
This presentation will give participants an overview of the issues faced by visually impaired learners in accessing and using online learning in general, and virtual learning environments in particular.
E-learning has the potential to enable learners with particular needs to engage in independent and self-directed learning on equal terms with others.
How might e-learning affect a student who is visually impaired?
According to Nielsen (2001), it is 6 times more difficult for someone
to use the Internet using a screen reader than using no assistive
technology.
What do we mean by e-learning? A definition?
'Covers a wide set of applications and processes, such as Web-based
learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital
collaboration. It includes the delivery of content via Internet,
intranet/extranet (LAN/WAN), audio- and videotape, satellite
broadcast, interactive TV, and CD-ROM.'
Learning Circuits - www.learningcircuits.org/
This is a good definition as it sees e-learning as more than just on-line learning. This may be particularly significant for students with a visual impairment. E-learning is sometimes viewed as embracing more traditional methods of teaching too – again with its own set of implications for visually impaired students.
What is the difference between accessibility and usability?
'Usability focuses on making software, websites and on-line
applications or services easy for people to use. Accessibility focuses
on making them equally easy for everyone to use, including people who
may use assistive technologies such as screen readers etc.' Quoted
from Frontend.com
