[edtech] Fwd: Live Web conference: Design for More Usable Online Learning Systems

[Kathleen Cahill]

Hello;

This live web conference held on Dec. 2 and 16 may be of interest to you 
and your groups, as it addresses how to make online learning more 
accessible.  A few of us will be listening in the ATIC lab, if anyone wants 
to join us.  If there is more interest, I can schedule a room centrally 
located.

Thanks,
Kathy


>X-Sieve: CMU Sieve 2.2u
>X-Sender: nrcces at osfmail.isc.rit.edu (Unverified)
>X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32)
>Date:         Thu, 18 Nov 2004 07:36:49 -0800
>Reply-To: "* EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information"
>               <EASI at MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
>Sender: "* EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information"
>               <EASI at MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
>From: Prof Norm Coombs <nrcgsh at RIT.EDU>
>Subject:      Live Web conference: Design for More Usable Online Learning
>               Systems
>X-To:         "adtech-ps at lists.orst.edu" <adtech-ps at lists.orst.edu>,
>               "axslib-l at maelstrom.stjohns.edu"
>               <axslib-l at maelstrom.stjohns.edu>
>               DSSHE-L at LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU, "itd-jnl at maelstrom.stjohns.edu"
>               <itd-jnl at maelstrom.stjohns.edu>, webaim-forum at list.webaim.org
>To: EASI at MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
>X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.42
>X-Spam-Score: 1.671
>X-Spam-Level: * (1.671)
>X-Spam-Flag: NO
>
>Live Web conference: Design for More Usable Online Learning Systems
>December 2 and December 16, both at 4 PM Eastern Standard
>At the bottom of the description is a link for registration.  Sign up for
>this EASI-sponsored event soon in advance as space is limited.  Even if you
>cannot attend, registering will get you a link later to the recordings.
>
>Increase Access to Learningg Tools and Content
>Make your course content and learning tools available to more users. Open
>accessibility specifications show the way.
>
>Who will benefit from this information:
>software designers,
>online learning institutions,
>online learning instruction designers,
>online faculty,
>online students,
>administrators,
>ADA compliance officers
>and more!
>
>------------------------
>Project Description:
>
>Who needs better access to e-learning content and tools?
>List of 4 items
>• Students, faculty, and staff with disabilities
>• Workers in noisy environments
>• Students in quiet public places
>• Users of portable devices with small screens
>list end
>
>What are some examples of accessibility functions?
>List of 4 items
>• Larger fonts for improved visibility
>• Adjustable color contrast for outdoor reading
>• Captions for video and audio
>• Text-to-speech functionality
>list end
>
>"One of the great opportunities for Sakai is to significantly increase
>accessibility to higher education for persons with disabilities. But to
>succeed we
>have to remain true to the spirit of open source while providing the means
>for delivering practical and effective collaborative learning environments.
>The IMS Accessibility specifications provide a well-thought out template
>for achieving our goals, and I am excited to have them as part of our
>development
>solution."
>--Michael Elledge, Accessibility Team Lead, Sakai Project, University of
>Michigan
>
>Benefits
>List of 7 items
>• Save money and time. IMS Accessibility specifications are available at no
>cost and are a foundation for achieving specific levels of accessible content
>and tools.
>• Provide equal access to all users. Expand usage of eLearning to all
>students and employees.
>• Comply with legal obligations. Legislation (US Section 508 and 504, UK
>SENDA, and others internationally) requires accommodating all users.
>• Expand customer and user base. Application or content vendors can reach a
>larger market and gain competitive advantage by using accessibility
>specifications
>in their products.
>• Enrich the user experience. Optimize the interaction style and display
>characteristics for each user.
>• Works with existing content. Highlight the value in content you already
>have.
>• Flexible integration path. Implement only those pieces of the
>specifications that apply to your product or content.
>list end
>
>IMS Accessibility specifications and guidelines have been developed with
>participants from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the Dublin Core
>Metadata Initiative, and IMS contributing members representing government
>agencies, higher education, content providers, and application vendors
>worldwide.
>This project is sponsored in part by a grant to the WGBH National Center
>for Accessible Media from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary
>Education, U.S. Department of Education.
>
>Register for all or part of this two-part event at:
>http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
>scroll down to the link for registration.  After submitting the form, you
>will receive an e-mail confirmation.
>
>-----------------
>Check EASI's online courses on accessible information technology at:
>http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
>
>
>
> 
>------------------------------
>EASI Is the premiere provider of online courses on designing accessible
>information technology:
>(a package of five courses will earn the Certificate in Accessible
>Information Technology)
>http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
>** Also check our monthly interact Web conferences on accessible IT:
>http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
>
>                                                 Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
>CEO EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
>22196 Caminito Tasquillo
>         Laguna Hills CA 92653
>home: (949)  855-4852
>         Cell: (949) 922-5992
>E-mail: nrcgsh at rit.edu
>                 http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kathy Cahill
MIT Adaptive Technology (ATIC) lab
Information Services and Technology (IS&T)
77 Mass. Ave. 7-143
Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 253-5111
kcahill at mit.edu
http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/