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. (Many instructors are already implementing these recommendations, see one tip below.)
Examples
- Allow students to use smart phones to respond to PollEverywhere, to take notes with a Note taking app on their iPad, or to use assistive technology.
Benefits for Students
- More engaging, effective, and diverse learning environment
- Increased accessibility for students with disabilities, e.g. being able to take photos of the chalkboard, using dictation on their phone, or video and voice recording option
- Use of assistive technology built into the iPhone (e.g. magnification, Live Captions, color filters, Live Listen)
- Accommodation addressed: Permission to use technology in the classroom
Positive Side Effects for Instructors
- Technology facilitates the implementation of diverse pedagogical tools, such as interactive polling, collaborative document editing, and real-time surveys, fostering active learning and engagement.
Instructor tip: “One of the options I’m considering is letting the students just use the iPads without the keyboards. This is perhaps a middle ground that avoids the digital barriers created by vertical screens, but still allows students to take digital notes.” (Prof. Fernando Nascimento)
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.