Review ways to make your course more accessibility-friendly during Disability Awareness Week and prepare for #CyThx 2021 |
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CELT Teaching Tip • October 28, 2021 |
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Tips to Make Your Course More Accessible |
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This week, Iowa State University has been observing Disability Awareness Week, a week devoted to educating the Cyclone community about the experience of individuals with disabilities. As an instructor, you have a direct impact on a student’s experience and ability to grow and thrive at ISU. Consider these tips to increase accessibility and improve all student learning experiences.
- Present information in multiple formats: A disability may impact a student’s ability to access specific forms of communication. Provide course content in a variety of modalities to eliminate this barrier, and allow all students the ability to access materials through the platform most beneficial to their learning. Create captions and transcripts for videos and audio recordings, include audio descriptions of images, diagrams, or maps, or include a simulation or hands-on experience.
- Consider how students will engage with course materials and each other: Can you identify any barriers to or within the meeting location(s) or learning environment? Have you selected learning technologies accessible to students with disabilities? Support students by being flexible and providing alternative options for engaging with course materials and each other. Allow students to participate in person or virtually. Give them the opportunity to voice questions and comments, type them within a chat, or provide anonymous feedback via Qualtrics. Encourage students to work together using alternative formats including virtual rooms, team chats, discussion boards, or online interactive apps.
- Use assessment for learning ownership: Identify alternative mechanisms students may utilize to demonstrate acquisition of knowledge and skills indicated in your learning objectives. Provide a variety of options for students to demonstrate their skills that allow for various strengths, preferences, abilities, and student disabilities.
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Brad Dell, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Music and Theatre
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Teaching Advice
Particularly true over the last year and a half, but always central to my teaching philosophy, are grace, care, patience, and love. My goal as an instructor is, certainly, to inspire students with the course content. Still, even more importantly, it is to support them in leading and developing full, rich, healthy, engaged, and interesting lives. It is vital to recognize that students are entering our classrooms with very different experiences and, oftentimes many different obstacles. Instruction based in equity requires meeting the students where they are and ensuring that they have what they need to be successful. I strive to clarify the expectations of the course objectives but provide as much grace as possible to accommodate the needs, and challenges students face. And I strive to set up my classes as artistic communities where students support one another through their learning...
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#CyThx Message
Brad is the ultimate cheerleader. He sends out emails and texts, encouraging the Theatre faculty & staff to face whatever the future brings with grace, patience, and love. He urges us to maintain a healthy work/life balance. He cares about our students and isn't afraid to show them. His positive outlook is rubbing off on me, thank goodness!
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The 2022 Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) is now accepting admissions and is offering an in-person and virtual option this year. This year's virtual pre-conference, available to Iowa State faculty and staff, will take place on Wednesday, March 2. Thursday, March 3 will feature the virtual ISCORE conference, and Friday, March 4 will be the in-person ISCORE option.
This forum focused on issues of race and ethnicity is free and open to the entire Iowa State community (students, faculty, and staff), and proposals are being accepted through a Qualtrics link through November 12.
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Upcoming Events (Oct. 28-Nov. 10) |
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Award-Winning Seminar Series
Engage Students: With content, instructor, and fellow students
Equity and Inclusion
Mindfulness and Contemplative Pedagogy: Deepen awareness and insight
Technology Tools and Strategies: Enhance your teaching, any modality!
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CELT Open Labs
Visit 3015 Morrill Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. through Dec. 3 for assistance with Canvas or other pedagogical questions/concerns.
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Email CELT
Email [email protected] to submit a ticket and request a specific one-on-one with a CELT staff member. Make sure to include the course title and any questions you may have.
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IT Solution Center
You can email the ISU Solution Center ([email protected]) or call them (515-294-4000) for technical support. You may also call and follow the prompts to speak with a Canvas representative for support.
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