Suggestion 2: Help students stay engaged and focused during class.
Examples:
- Create a structured and organized classroom environment.
- Provide students with a visual reference of the detailed class agenda throughout the entire class time (incl. breaks, group activities, etc).
- Write down verbal instructions on the board or have them prepared on a slide or handout.
- At the beginning of class, allow time to review previous class content. This can be posed as a question.
Benefits for students:
- Helps students stay focused, organized, and aware of what will be covered during the class.
- Ensures that students have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and can easily refer to the instructions if needed.
- Accommodation addressed: addresses students with shorter attention spans or those who need to fidget/move to focus. This may also address needs for bathroom breaks.
Positive side effects for instructors:
- Written instructions reduce the risk of misunderstandings or confusion that can arise from solely relying on verbal instructions. No need to repeat your instructions multiple times.
Instructor Tip: On a PowerPoint slide I have the agenda up when students arrive in class.
Instructions for every in-class activity or discussion are also on a slide so students can refer back to it as needed. (Katie Byrnes)
Why is Accessibility Important?
Bowdoin strives to be inclusive to all members of our community. Considering accessibility enhances the experience of all participants. Increasing all students’ comfort level and ability to participate—regardless of established disability—results in a more inclusive and more productive learning environment for everyone. These suggestions were developed with common disability accommodations in mind however, the fundamental rationale is that Universal Design strategies benefit all learners.
Lesley Levy, Keona Ervin, and Tina Chong from the Accessibility Task Force are excited to share a series of accessibility suggestions for your teaching. Each Teaching Times newsletter for Fall 2024, they’ll present a new tip. Try it out in your class and share your experiences and insights with us. Email [email protected] with your accessibility practices. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive learning environment for all students.