Inclusive practice

1. Inclusive practice The role of technology in enhancing accessibility … implications for staff development and institutional policy. Alistair McNaught Senior Advisor for FE

2. The shiny ladder awards Learning Provider Marketing Admissions Resources Experiences Assessment

3. The shiny ladder awards Learning Provider Marketing Admissions Resources Experiences Assessment

4. The good practice awards Learning Provider Marketing Admissions Resources Experiences Assessment

5. TechDis support areas • Awareness raising. What is it like if…. • Better use of existing resources. What can I do with… • Resources/activities . What is a reasonable adjustment? • More inclusive practices. Going beyond handouts. • More agile learning opportunities. Remote and mobile.. • Free tools. Saving £s and improving independence.. • Case studies. What has been done by whom? • Online accessibility self evaluations. How are we doing?

6. Awareness raising • SimDis - www.techdis.ac.uk/simdis • WatchWords - www.techdis.ac.uk/watchwords • Staff packs - www.techdis.ac.uk/staffpacks • Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication in the UK (www.techdis.ac.uk/getatreport)

7. Better use of existing resources Accessibility Essentialswww.techdis.ac.uk/accessibilityessentials • Web – colours, magnification & navigation. • Word – Creating accessible texts and images. • PowerPoint – Creating accessible PowerPoint.

8. Reasonable adjustment • How do you gauge what is a reasonable adjustment? • What are the range of adjustments that might be reasonable at any time? • What policies would help? What practices are available? • How do I work with particular subject resources? • How does it impact on assessment? http://excellence.qia.org.uk/page.aspx?o=jisctechdis See also JISC TechDis guidance on obtaining textbooks in alternative formats. www.techdis.ac.uk/getaltformat

9. Inclusive practice Simple and free software allows teaching staff to create more inclusive resources/content/ experiences See www.techdis.ac.uk/getfreesoftware • Podcasts (Audacity) • Screen videoclips (Camstudio) • Screenshot based Flash (Wink) • Accessible Learning objects • Xerte www.techdisplayxerte.info – techdis / jisc to get in.

10. More agile learning www.techdis.ac.uk/upwardlymobile • Mobile-optimised PowerPoint • Podcasts for content; feedback; assessment. • GPS supporting map skills, independence. • Portable independence / rich media. • Video/audio evidence • Lifeskills support (video clips, audio reminders)

11. Free Assistive Technology • Inbuilt – www.techdis.ac.uk/staffpacks - see Benevolent Bill pack for personalisation options. • Web based – eg mind-mapping and text to speech. - (www.mindmeister.com, www.readthewords.com, www.robobraille.org) • Free and Portable - eg text to speech, magnification, organising and planning www.techdis.ac.uk/getfreesoftware • www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/accessapps • Networkable or locally loaded – eg dictionary, word prediction, screen tinting etc.

12. Case studies TechDis • Innovation projects - http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getinnovation • HEAT projects - http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getheatscheme Others • Scottish RSCs accessibility blogshttp://www.scottish-rscs.org.uk/access/ • Learning for living and work – http://inclusivity.rsc-yh.ac.uk • MoLeNET www.molenet.org.uk

13. Online Accessibility Self Evaluation These follow on from the 5 Senior Manager briefings: • E-learning as an accessibility investment • Accessibility in the mainstream • Advice and guidance for network managers • Transition Arrangements - Partners, Processes and Funding Issues. • Accessible Marketing and Admissions . • Making the Disability Equality Duty Meaningfulwww.techdis.ac.uk/getbriefings

14. What was the guidance about? The guidance allows colleges to • significantly reduce their risk under DED/DDA legislation. • significantly improve the inclusiveness of teaching and learning for all learners • build effectively on the technology infrastructures already in place. • Understand the contributions of ALL staff to supporting ALL learners.

15. Why does it matter? • As a result of the work by TechDis and partner agencies, the concept of ‘Reasonable adjustment’ is much clearer. • The wide dissemination of pragmatic guidance raises the bar for what learners can expect. BUT • In most institutions the key staff are unaware of the TechDis resources.

16. Online accessibility self evaluations www.techdis.ac.uk/getevaluated A series of national online events where a community of practitioners assess their practice and get anonymous feedback on how they are doing compared to others. Supported by Regional Support Centres and in FE and Higher Education Academy subject centres in HE.

17. The format The provision Timely training - 90 minute online audit. No travel, work from any web connected PC. Role specific - LSP, Network manager, elearning /staff development manager, assistant principal, marketing manager, librarian. Live benchmarking – own practice v TechDis recommendations AND v regional norms.

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19. Conclusion • There is a wealth of information available from JISC TechDis and other partners to • Support staff development • Support you supporting learners • The main value in the JISC TechDis guidance includes • Reach – different guidance focuses on different roles • Richness – it attempts to embed good practice in mainstream approaches rather than playing catch up afterwards. • Relationships – JISC TechDis works closely with over 60 intermediary organisations across all post 16 sectors, enabling the cross fertilisation of good practices wherever they are found.

20. (SPARE) Web 2.0 Web 2.0 software includes some gems that help include or engage learners in different ways. • Gabcast - phone in podcastswww.gabcast.com • YackPack - audio based asynchronous communicationwww.yackpack.com • Bubblr - comic strip creationhttp://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/ • www.Vyew.com - collaboration online via text, images, audio