Accessible Design: Text to Speech in the VLE

PowerPoint Presentation

Accessible Design: Text to speech in the VLEJoop Heijenrath, ReadSpeaker Founder/CCO

Welcome!2

AgendaAccessibility in higher educationUDL: what is it, and why do we care?Text to speech in relation to UDL and accessibilityEnhancing the Blackboard VLE with text to speechDemonstration of ReadSpeaker in BlackboardHow to implement the ReadSpeaker building blockQuestions?3

Accessibility in higher education4A hot button issue

A few statistics6% of university students identify as having disabilities. Of these:31% report Specific Learning disabilities18% report concentration difficulties due to ADD or ADHD15% report psychological condition7% report mobility limitation3% report visual impairment3% report cognitive difficulties and/or intellectual disabilityUp to 10% of university students in the UK come from overseas, and the majority do not speak English as a first language (around 15% foreign students in NL).

5

All learners deserve equal access to content 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning, as reported by Digital Learning Now, include:Learner access: All learners have access to high-quality digital content and online courses.No learner should be unable to access course material, despite any disability or limitation he/she may have.All course content should be created to be accessible.Personalized learning: All learners can customize their education using digital content and digital tools.Each learner has a preferred method of learning. Digital content should be customizable and be able to be accessed with digital tools to reach these preferred methods.

6

What does an accessible VLE look like?No barricades to assistive technology (screenreaders, etc)Videos are captionedFlash is not used (use HTML5, as it is accessible)Documents are available in readable text format, not as a scanned image.All material is both keyboard- and mouse accessible.Additional tools for learners are available (text to speech, spell check, text-only mode).

7

Assuming all material within the VLE is accessibleReadSpeaker can read aloud the text using text-to-speech.Conversion to audio is instantaneous and done on-the-fly.ReadSpeaker offers reading in more than 130 voices and more than 40 languages, so you can choose the voice best suitable for your learners.ReadSpeaker has been around since 1999, so we are experts in text-to-speech.

8

ReadSpeaker Presence in Education

ReadSpeaker has customers in 62 countriesReadSpeaker has dedicated staff in 13 countries

officesclients

UDL: What is it, and why do we care?10

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)UDL is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.11

What kind of learner are you?Most learners prefer to learn with a combination of these styles.

12

UDL: Why do we care?UDL flips the model of assistive technologies by offering benefits of digital technologies to all students, allowing them to choose the digital tools that fit them best.13

Text to speech in relation to UDL and accessibility14

Learning via visual and auditory channels Bimodal reading:The act of reading text while hearing the words at the same time, such as when using speech synthesis software, or reading the text, hearing the words, and having the words (and/or sentences) highlighted at the same time, such as when using text-to-speech software with integrated highlighting.

15

ReadSpeaker works using bimodal presentation

16

Who benefits?Busy learners who like to multitask or listen on the go.Learners with reading impairments, including dyslexia.Learners with concentration difficulties.Learns with cognitive impairments.Learners who are non-native speakers of the language in which they are studying (e.g. ELL students).Learners with visual impairments.17

Importantly, bimodal reading benefits ALL learnersSpecific benefits of bimodal content presentation include:Improved word recognition skills and vocabulary.Improved reading comprehension, fluency, accuracy, and concentration.Improved information recall and learning/memory enhancement.Increased motivation and more positive attitude with regard to reading.Increased reading self-confidence and perceived performance.18

Improving Learning Outcomes

Enhancing the Blackboard VLE with text to speech19

ReadSpeaker for BlackboardSeamless integration into the Blackboard VLE for an easy, straightforward learner experience.Reading of HTML content and documentsLanguage adaption: ReadSpeaker will read in the language of your Blackboard environment, automatically (on the basis of the Blackboard language code)Simple, quick integration via building block.Ability to turn functionality on and off per course.

20

HTML reading

21

Document reading

22

Implementing the ReadSpeaker building block

23


24


25


26

Implementing the ReadSpeaker building blockOne-time implementationAll documents automatically have docReader capabilityAnytime you (or an instructor) changes course content, this is automatically and instantly reflected in the audio!ReadSpeaker support team is available to assist with any questions or concerns during (and after) implementation.27

Questions?28

For Further InformationVisit www.readspeaker.com/education/Blackboard to download your packet for getting started with ReadSpeaker for Blackboard.Send an email to [email protected] out ReadSpeaker in your own Blackboard VLE: visit our stand and speak with a representative.

Thank you!29