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
- At a minimum: build in 15 minutes (for a 55-minute class period) to reduce stress and allow students to check their work upon completing their exam.
- Ideally: design exams to take two-thirds of the allotted time period (55-minute exam for a 85-minute class period).
Benefits for Students
- Less stress and time pressure for everyone.
- Accommodation addressed: Extended time (1.5x) on exams.
Positive Side Effects for Instructors
- Less grading
- No need to create a second exam to be given to a student at a different time.
Instructor tip: I prefer more frequent and shorter assessments over less frequent and longer in-class assessments. It puts less emphasis on any one assessment. If I feel like the shorter in-class portion of the exam does not cover as much material as I would like, I will also give a take home portion, giving the students, for example, 24 hours to complete. This allows for long-form questions without stressing the students with such questions during an in-class exam. (Prof. Chris Chong)
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.
More information on Universal Design principles can be found at https://www.cast.org/resources/udl-tips-from-cast.