This guide is a resource for library staff with instructional responsibilities to learn more about pedagogy, resources and tools.
Grounding Readings on Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning
- UDL Guidelines from CASTThese guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.
- Universal Design for LearningThis site provides an overview of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and how it applies to higher education learning environments and additional resources for deeper understanding. It also offers practical information about getting started, case stories that are examples of courses and programs that use UDL to improve student success and links to some colleges and universities that have UDL initiatives.
- ACRL. (2020) Keeping up with Universal Design for LearningIncorporating UDL means committing to making sure library instruction is available to all students. Every library instruction can benefit from incorporating aspects of UDL. It's an ongoing process, and doing something is better than doing nothing.
- ECAR Study of the Technology Needs of Students with Disabilities, 2020Technology in higher education can be both an aid and a challenge for students with disabilities. Institutions and instructors can take steps to ensure that these students have equitable access, and those same measures can help all students, particularly during the era of emergency remote teaching.
Creating Accessible Content
One important thing to remember about online teaching is that access is a primary concern. It is key that you create and share accessible instructional materials, not only for students with disabilities, but students who may have slower internet or limited data, or are accessing your content via a mobile device. The resources listed in this section will give you ideas on how you can create accessible content.
- Creating accessible slide presentationsTo make sure that everyone in your audience can acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same experiences, learn the fundamentals of accessible slide design, including using preset layouts, readable fonts, descriptive links, and alternative text.
- Creating accessible course materialsWhen developing course materials, incorporate the core skills of accessibility in your course design. Consider common barriers students experience. As you modify or update course materials, identify and correct any materials that are improperly formatted, inconsistent, or disorganized.
- Creating accessible documentsWe create thousands of documents each day with tools such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs, plus convert them to PDFs and digitize printed documents. But all are accessible only if you make them scannable, searchable, legible, and readable.
Last Updated: Nov 2, 2023 1:24 PM
URL: https://libguides.umn.edu/teaching_resources