Usability Implications JISC TechDis Service www'techdis'ac'uk helpdesktechdis'ac'uk Emma Arnold Proj

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Usability ImplicationsJISC TechDis
Servicewww.techdis.ac.ukhelpdesk_at_techdis.ac.uk
Emma ArnoldProject Officer, TechDis
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The JISC TechDis Advisory Service

• TechDis is the leading educational advisory
  service providing advice and guidance on
  technology and disability to promote an
  accessible and inclusive experience for students
  and staff.
• TechDis is a funded advisory service
  (Joint Information Systems Committee).
• TechDis is a co-located Service within the HE
  Academy building in York.

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TechDis Remit

• TechDis covers Higher, Further and Specialist
  Education, across the UK.
• Our remit is neither focused mainly around
  technology nor around disability but around good
  practice in teaching and learning that inherently
  broadens and enhances the student experience for
  all students.

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TechDis and Subject Centres

• DELAcc
• Funding from JISC to look at 12 Distributed
  E-Learning (DEL) projects and ask what would
  have been done differently or how would the
  outcomes have been different if disabled students
  had been considered?
• HEAT
• Sector or subject centre staff bid for technology
  to enable the development or uncovering of a
  piece of good or innovative practice in teaching.
  20 funded currently, Round 2 next April.

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The Holistic Approach to E-Learning

• Need to provide accessible learning experiences,
  not necessarily accessible e-learning
  experiences.
• Accessibility is primarily about people and not
  about technology, so staff should take into
  account an individual's specific needs,
  institutional and subject factors when providing
  accessible resources.
• Need for a quality assurance framework for the
  development of accessible e-learning resources.
• www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/papers/alt-c-2005/

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User Testing

• Ensure any site is tested with sample target
  audience throughout development.
• Include disabled learners within stakeholder
  group, including those using alternative
  equipment to access the information e.g.
  Screenreader.
• Ensure common tasks can be completed with ease.

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Accessibility Statement

• Ensure when accessibility is considered the
  outcomes are noted within a statement. If
  something is inaccessible state it is.
• Provide alternative advice e.g. contact
  information.
• Developing and Publicising a Workable
  Accessibility Strategy - http//www.ariadne.ac.uk
  /issue38/phipps/

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Using what you know best

• Appropriate use of Microsoft Word
• Document Map
• Use of Structured and Unstructured Documents
• Structured document
• Unstructured document
• www.techdis.ac.uk/accessibilityessentials

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Staff Development Support

• TechDis Online services - www.techdis.ac.uk
• Staff Packs - www.techdis.ac.uk/staffpacks
• Accessibility Essentials - www.techdis.ac.uk/acces
  sibilityessentials
• User Preferences Toolbar www.techdis.ac.uk/getto
  olbar
• HE Conference Report - www.techdis.ac.uk/getheconf
  report
• Community site - www.techdis.ac.uk/community