Creating accessible library materials at Dundee College

Abi Mawhirt, Senior Learning Hub Assistant

Why are we creating accessible materials?

Who can or will use the materials?

What exactly are the materials?

How did we make them?

Why: College Values

Respectshow respect for the needs and views of every individual through our communications and actions

Innovationtake responsibility to find solutions to problems and empower others to do the same

Future Focuscontribute to a learning environment which is effective in preparing learners for the future and which supports them in achieving their ambitions

Qualitydemonstrate a commitment to continual quality enhancement in all aspects of the learner experience

Why: Equality Act 2010

We must make reasonable adjustments

Who: Student Support Requests

2011-12 2012-13

Students identifying a support need: Those who noted a support need on their application form for college

950 985

Final number of students supported: Group 18 students are removed as they are supported elsewhere in the college, as are students who have a support need but do not want any assistance, those who withdraw from studies etc.

458 474

Who: Everybody

© Microsoft

What: MaterialsWhat

A5 hard copy Online Wimba FilesA4 Printable PDFs Plain Text Files

This guide is available in other formats. Contact learninghub@dundeecollege.ac.uk for more information.You may use this material under the CC licence shown.

What: MaterialsWhat

A5 hard copy

Online Wimba FilesA4 Printable PDFs Plain Text Files

What: MaterialsWhat

A5 hard copy Online Wimba Files

A4 Printable PDFs Plain Text Files

What: MaterialsWhat

A5 hard copy Online Wimba FilesA4 Printable PDFs

Plain Text Files

What: Moodle Course

What: Screen Capture Videos and Podcast

Screen Captures:• Created using Camtasia• Cover procedural tasks like renew online, login to ebooks etc.• Include subtitles

Podcast:• Generic information• Benefit from album-quality recording studio at Gardyne

campus, but important not to get hung up on ‘perfection’

Free apps and tools can deliver suitable results.

What: Access Apps

Available on all College networked computers as a result of the award-winning PADDI Project, in conjunction with JISC and SLIC.

How: Content First

Steps to creation:

• Draft content Create the basis of the material• Share content Liaise with other departments on the content, i.e. curriculum teams, supported learning, guidance, IT etc.• Proof content Once approved, go over the content carefully and look for ways to improve wording – clarity extremely important• Format content The easy bit! Copy and paste your content and fiddle with formatting to make any number of differentiated versions

How: Software Used

Microsoft OfficePublisher in particular – enhanced desk top publishingFunction to create PDFs

Wimba Create: http://www.wimba.com/products/wimba_create

Microsoft Word plugin

Camtasia: http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html

or Jing: http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

What Next?

Podcast:• 4 ½ minutes long too long?• Create shorter sound snippets, variety of topics

Guides:• Constantly reviewing• More topics, as many formats• Advertising the variety of formats further – being explicit

Video Guides and Tutorials:• Create online video tutorials and guides with subtitles• Provide information in a visual and friendly way

Contact and Useful Links

Abi Mawhirt @abimawhirtSenior Learning Hub Assistant, Dundee Collegea.mawhirt@dundeecollege.ac.uk or 01382 834850

Learning Hub Help Moodle Course:https://moodle.dundeecollege.ac.uk/ Username: library_01 Password: Library_01

JISC Edu / Access Apps downloads: http://eduapps.org/?page_id=67