Pandemic-Transformed Classrooms: Digital Accessibility and Tech Tools
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation
Conference Strand
Diversity and Inclusion
Target Audience
Higher Education
Second Target Audience
K-12
Location
Session 3 Papers
Relevance
During COVID emergency remote learning, many librarians utilized educational technologies to enhance active learning. This practice continues in pandemic-transformed classrooms today. Still, knowing that tech tools may enhance engagement in the classroom is not enough; librarians should be asking whether these tech tools are accessible for all students. During this interactive session, we will share our findings from digital accessibility tests of Kahoot, Jamboard, Mentimeter, Padlet, and Poll Everywhere done in collaboration with native users of assistive technologies. Our goal is to promote accessibility-conscientious use of technology tools among teaching librarians. Participants will engage in activities with one or more of the five tools. There will be time for discussion and reflection, and presenters will offer recommendations for accessibility-conscientious use of technology tools in the future.
Abstract
Educational technologies, or “tech tools,” support instruction by enhancing student engagement opportunities and active learning. This is especially true in emergency remote learning and continues in pandemic-transformed classrooms today. Still, knowing that tech tools may enhance engagement is not enough; we should also be asking whether these tech tools are digitally accessible for all students and if not, what can be done to make them more accessible. During this session, we will share our findings from assistive technology testing with the Digital Accessibility Office at XX University. While many librarians have a basic understanding of tech tools, and vendors’ self-reported accessibility statements and reports, our presentation will be unique in sharing key findings from testing with collaborators who are native users of assistive technologies. These findings go beyond basic WCAG compliance to illustrate what a typical information literacy activity using a tech tool may be like for students using screen readers. While we acknowledge that in a perfect world, all environments would be 100% accessible, our goal in the meantime is to promote accessibility-conscientious use of technology tools among teaching librarians. Our presentation will benefit participants whether they have Digital Accessibility Offices and resources at their institutions or not. In addition to sharing specific successes and limitations for five technology tools, we will also provide simple tips to make technology-based classroom activities more accessible. Participants will engage in an educational tech tool activity using one or more of the five tools we tested: Kahoot, Jamboard, Mentimeter, Padlet, and Poll Everywhere. Participants will then reflect on their experiences in light of the accessibility reports and insights presented. Participants will have the opportunity to examine digital accessibility issues that may arise in their classrooms, identify associated technical language, understand more about user experiences, and reflect on best practices no matter what tech tools they typically use. We hope to advance information literacy's commitment to equity by centering the experiences of users with disabilities, including native users of assistive technologies, in our discussion of tech tools for engagement.
Presentation Description
Educational technologies, or “tech tools,” support instruction by enhancing student engagement opportunities and active learning. Still, knowing that tech tools may enhance engagement is not enough; we should also be asking whether these tech tools are digitally accessible for all students and if not, what can be done to make them more accessible.
Keywords
digital accessibility, information literacy, educational technology tools
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Ibacache, Kathia and Koob, Amanda Rybin, "Pandemic-Transformed Classrooms: Digital Accessibility and Tech Tools" (2023). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 12.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2023/2023/12
Pandemic-Transformed Classrooms: Digital Accessibility and Tech Tools
Session 3 Papers
Educational technologies, or “tech tools,” support instruction by enhancing student engagement opportunities and active learning. This is especially true in emergency remote learning and continues in pandemic-transformed classrooms today. Still, knowing that tech tools may enhance engagement is not enough; we should also be asking whether these tech tools are digitally accessible for all students and if not, what can be done to make them more accessible. During this session, we will share our findings from assistive technology testing with the Digital Accessibility Office at XX University. While many librarians have a basic understanding of tech tools, and vendors’ self-reported accessibility statements and reports, our presentation will be unique in sharing key findings from testing with collaborators who are native users of assistive technologies. These findings go beyond basic WCAG compliance to illustrate what a typical information literacy activity using a tech tool may be like for students using screen readers. While we acknowledge that in a perfect world, all environments would be 100% accessible, our goal in the meantime is to promote accessibility-conscientious use of technology tools among teaching librarians. Our presentation will benefit participants whether they have Digital Accessibility Offices and resources at their institutions or not. In addition to sharing specific successes and limitations for five technology tools, we will also provide simple tips to make technology-based classroom activities more accessible. Participants will engage in an educational tech tool activity using one or more of the five tools we tested: Kahoot, Jamboard, Mentimeter, Padlet, and Poll Everywhere. Participants will then reflect on their experiences in light of the accessibility reports and insights presented. Participants will have the opportunity to examine digital accessibility issues that may arise in their classrooms, identify associated technical language, understand more about user experiences, and reflect on best practices no matter what tech tools they typically use. We hope to advance information literacy's commitment to equity by centering the experiences of users with disabilities, including native users of assistive technologies, in our discussion of tech tools for engagement.
