• The Open University

Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning

Understand accessibility and inclusion issues and learn how to design and deliver accessible online learning.

517 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    12 weeks

  • Weekly study

    13 hours
Overview
Requirements
Educators
This course is part of the Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning program, which will enable you to learn inclusive teaching strategies to support students with additional needs.

This microcredential provides teachers and professionals working in education with the skills to understand, design, and deliver online learning that is accessible and inclusive.

Under the guidance of online teaching experts at The Open University, you’ll develop the pedagogical, technological, procedural, and legal knowledge you need to enhance the accessibility of your online courses.

What topics will you cover?

  • Week 1: Welcome and introducing online learning experiences of students with disabilities (diverse stories, benefits and challenges of learning online)
  • Week 2: Understanding accessibility – definitions, models, rationale and what this means in practice
  • Week 3: How assistive technologies are used in online learning
  • Week 4: Current trends and innovations in assistive technologies
  • Week 5: Making common forms of learning material accessible
  • Week 6: Strategies of inclusive and universal design for learning
  • Week 7: Making online learning activities and assessments accessible
  • Week 8: Fulfilling our responsibilities – laws, policies and expectations in online accessibility
  • Week 9: Evaluating the accessibility of websites, platforms and tools
  • Week 10: Working with students - needs assessment and gathering and responding to accessibility feedback
  • Week 11: Institutional approaches to ensure online learning accessibility – roles, responsibilities, and stakeholders
  • Week 12: Conclusion and assessment

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Design accessible learning materials and activities for online learning
  • Evaluate the accessibility of websites, online platforms, and interactive tools
  • Reflect on the common challenges and benefits that students with disabilities find with online learning
  • Synthesise understanding of innovations in assistive technology to support learners in new and effective ways
  • Lead and develop effective processes to achieve accessibility in educational institutions which meet legal and policy requirements

Who is the course for?

To study for this postgraduate microcredential, you will ideally have:

  • A Bachelors degree or an equivalent level qualification
  • Experience of working with disabled students
  • A strong interest in making teaching inclusive and accessible

While some of the content is related to the technical design of computers and digital resources, you do not have to have substantial technical understanding of computing to take the course.

This microcredential would benefit anyone currently working, or looking to work in, schools (particularly secondary education), colleges, universities, and workplace learning settings as a:

  • teacher
  • trainer
  • lecturer
  • learning designer
  • educational technologist
  • heads of department
  • institution leader and manager

This course has a global focus and the skills you’ll learn will be relevant for learners from countries around the world.

This course is highly relevant to those with responsibility for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in their department or institution.

Who will you learn with?

Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman (she/her)

Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman leads The Open University's Masters in Online Teaching programme. Her research explores the relationship between equity, social justice, online teaching and open pedagogies.

Dr Tim Coughlan

Dr Tim Coughlan is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Technology at The Open University, researching the design and evaluation of technologies for inclusion, participation and accessibility in learning.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969

  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK

  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

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