GEUG12: Inclusive Learning and Google Apps

GEUG12

University of Portsmouth, 2012

Dr Shirley EvansSpecial Projects Officer

shirley@techdis.ac.uk

JISC TechDis

• JISC Techdis is the leading UK advisory service on accessibility and inclusion.

• JISC Techdis provides expert advice, guidance and support for policy makers, senior management, front line and specialist staff;

Facts and figures

• There are around 11 million disabled people in the UK.1

• There are nearly 200,000 students in HE who have declared a disability. 2

• There are over 750,000 learners in FE and HE who have declared a learning difficulty, disability or health problem.3

Interested in Google Apps

• OU courses using Google apps

• Accessibility raised at assistive technology conference and via ATHENs Group

• Realised being used widely in UK HE

Questions

• Examples of accessibility issues in UK HE – none – may be

because disability officers not speaking to computing services;

• Examples of inclusive learning practice

BIS Partnership

• Three projects for the benefit of disabled and disadvantaged learners:• TechDis Voices.

• TechDis Toolbox.

• Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).

TechDis Toolboxwww.jisctechdis.ac.uk/tbx

Small Business Research Initiative – text projectsMyDocStore –

iansyst:quick and easy transfer of files between devices whilst converting them into the user’s preferred format.

Navitext - System Associates:improved navigation and accessibility to books and documents for people who are visually impaired, identifies key navigation points in a text and provides easy ways of moving through it and finding what is needed.

Due for completion in January 2013.

Challenges

•Integration – need to integrate with existing technologies;

•Firm point of contact with clear and timely messages about updates regarding accessibility – important given frequent updates.

Resources

•Google's Accessibility Resources for Google Apps, including tips for using Google Apps with assistive technologies

•Google's VPAT's (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates)

•ATHEN Report on the Accessibility of Google Docs

•ATHEN Report on the Accessibility of GMail and Google Calendar

•Google Apps at NC State

•Accessible Google Group

Opportunities

Interested in finding examples/case studies where Google products can promote inclusion:Google Presentation and Inclusivity

Using Google's Online Apps to Enhance a Class and Accommodate Students

Also interested to here about accessibility problems – as a central point of reference

Contact

JISC Techdis c/o The Higher Education Academy BuildingInnovation WayYork Science ParkYork YO10 5BR

Tel: 01904 717580.Email: helpdesk@techdis.ac.uk.Web: www.jisctechdis.ac.uk.

References

1 http://www.efd.org.uk/disability/disability-facts 2http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedd/publications/d/dius_rr_09_06.pdf 3 www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/.../SFR_March11_Published.pdf