RSCs – Stimulating and Supporting Innovation in Learning
RSCs – Stimulating and Supporting Innovation in Learning
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Welcome to the e-Learning Accessibility and Inclusion section, dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of e-Learning.
Making learning accessible and inclusive is something we are all responsible for. The Regional Support Centre Scotland North and East provides a range of services to support you in your role, for example;
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Assistive technologies and learning support software are constantly changing and evolving. The RSC Scotland North and East recognises that learning support staff do not always have time to keep up-to-date with what’s new.
In order to support your role we can provide bespoke courses in software and hardware to suit your needs as well as the training needs of your support staff.
We also provide training courses on getting the best from MS Office, for example, 'Creating Accessible and Inclusive Learning Resources' in Word and PowerPoint.
To find out more please contact Craig Mill, e-Learning Advisor Accessibility and Inclusion.
Tel: 0131 559 4778
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We are currently developing new initiatives such as an online Accessible and Inclusion Community where you can find support, post messages, share experiences and resources. To visit the RSC Scotland online community select this link.
A core part of our work is to meet the needs of those staff who are working with students with learning disabilities, for example, the RSC Scotland North and East East is a registered Clicker Centre and can provide training on Clicker 5, ClickerPaint and Clicker Phonics. To find out more about Clicker visit the Techdis site.
With the help of our e-Learning Advisors (Electronic Resources) the RSC Scotland North and East is consulting with library staff to assess and build on the good work and practice in creating accessible library environments.
As part of our service we can provide helpful advice to ensure you maximise the best from assistive technology and that you are meeting the requirements of SENDA.
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In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the availability of information and communication technology (ICT) to support learners with additional needs, particularly with literacy and numeracy difficulties.
If you work in the Early Education and Childcare sector the RSC Scotland North and East can provide tailor made courses which explore how ICT is being used in the classroom to support literacy and numeracy as well as pupils who have additional needs.
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Providing ICT resources in a social care context is becoming increasingly more frequent, particularly for elderly people in a care setting or people with learning disabilities. It is often the case that standard keyboards, mice and computer screen displays are unsuitable for elderly people, due to a mobility or sight difficulty.
The RSC Scotland North and East provides training to social care lecturing staff promoting awareness of how to make computing more accessible for people in day and residential care settings.
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Working with young people who find it difficult to cope with traditional teaching and learning approaches can be very challenging.
The 'Creating Digital CVs' course is designed primarily to re-introduce learners, in particular disaffected learners, to the learning process. The focus is on the acquisition of ICT skills and embedding Core Skills using a range of ‘new’ technologies, such as mobile devices, MP3s video etc, that young people find engaging and accessible.
The Creating Digital CV’s workshop has a proven track record of providing the necessary prerequisites to encourage young people to develop and complete a digital portfolio to enhance college progression and career opportunities. An example of Digital Portfolios in action.
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The RSC Scotland North and East offers a range of innovative and interesting training courses. If required we have a mobile class of up to 6 laptops specifically dedicated for training purposes.
This means that you get access to a range of assistive technologies in without having to worry about installing software on secure networks or computers. Please get in touch to organise a course.
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This workshop presents an opportunity to discover how you can make the most of free and existing software that can support students in their reading, writing and learning.
From Cloze Procedures , drop down word bars to incorporating audio and video into Word as well as accessible PowerPoint presentations and interactive Excel spreadsheets, this workshop will explore ‘hidden' features within MS Office to create inclusive classroom resources.
This is a practical based course and can be scheduled to run over a half or full day. The full day session incorporates audio and video in Word.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778.
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This course explores the range of difficulties that learners of all ages can encounter. In response to these difficulties the course focuses on the variety of software support programs that are available to appropriately support learners, for example, text to speech, mind mapping and visual learning, prediction software, word banks and grid software etc.
Additionally, the course also explores the many tools and features that are available in Windows and MS Word that can increase typing input and accuracy.
This course has a mixture of presentation and hands-on sessions.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778.
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Windows Accessibility options are features that are often ignored when setting up a computer for someone with a physical difficulty, e.g., poor motor control, dexterity, etc. However, if used properly, they can provide an inexpensive alternative for many individuals.
This course explores basic changes that can be made via Windows Accessibility Options to more complex programs that have been designed for people with specific disabilities, e.g., scanning, on-screen keyboards, switch access software etc, such as Clicker and The Grid.
This is a full day course.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
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This is a hands-on workshop which explores visual impairment and computer access. For many people with a visual impairment, particularly those people who are blind, the only means of accessing a computer is via the keyboard and using a speech output software program, such as JAWS (Job Access With Speech).
The session will cover:
This session would be useful for staff supporting students with a visual impairment and/or would like to improve their keyboard/shortcut skills. This is a half day course. To find out more about JAWS visit the Techdis site.
Victor Tsaran is the Accessibility Program Manager at Yahoo!, and a JAWS screen reader user. In this video interview he explores and demonstrates how, as a blind users, he can communicate to friends and work colleagues using JAWS with Yahoo! Messenger. Select this link to watch JAWS in action.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East by selecting this link or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
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Many people who attempt to use voice recognition often give up due to lack of progression and support. However, used in the correct way voice recognition can be a powerful tool for learners with physical disabilities, cognitive difficulties or for those of us who want to use a different way of inputting information.
This course will develop a range of skills and knowledge to enable users to use voice recognition and control their computer hands free. Techdis provide an overview of voice recognition / text to speech.
View an example of voice recognition used with MS Word in action.
This is a practical based half day session.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East by selecting this link or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
To listen to an audio transcript select the play (arrow) button below.
As well as the many changes that can be made within Windows and Office this course explores specific solutions in terms of magnification programs, e.g., Lunar, Lunar Plus, ZoomText as well as screen reading programs such as JAWS.
There will also be an opportunity to try out and compare a number of freely available software programs. Hardware solutions will also be explored, for example, high resolution keyboard stickers, alternative keyboards etc. Find out more about computing and sight difficulties by visiting the Techdis site.
This course offers a mixture of presentation and practical sessions. This is a half day course.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
To listen to an audio transcript select the play (arrow) button below.
Clicker is a powerful, easy-to-use writing support and multimedia tool, which enables young learners with complex difficulties to write with whole words, phrases or pictures. ClickerPaint integrates with Clicker 5 providing increased possibilities for those learners who find it difficult to express or communicate their ideas.
Clicker 5 can also be used with an Interactive White Board (IWB) and is switch accessible. Coupled with Word Prediction programs such as Penfriend or WordAid, Clicker 5 can be extended to support a range of learning needs.
Clicker 5 is an effective way of delivering Core Skills at Access levels 1, 2 and above. More about Clicker on the Techdis site.
This is a practical based full day course.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
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The development in ICT and Early Years Education is an exciting period for both college staff and students. There is now a wide range of ICT activities to support literacy and numeracy that is engaging, colorful and interactive for a range of children’s learning needs, including those children who have additional support needs.
This course provides an opportunity to explore the range of ICT devices and software and how they can be used to support children’s learning.
This is a half day course.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
To listen to an audio transcript select the play (arrow) button below.
This course explores the barriers that can hinder people, particularly elderly people in a care environment, from using a computer. If you are a Social Care lecturer this course will guide you through the various options available (and are freely available) within Windows 98, 2000 and XP as well as MS Word.
This is a half day course.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
To listen to an audio transcript select the play (arrow) button below.
Social Networking or Web 2 are tools such as Bebo, MySpace and YouTube are used by many young people to communicate, share and upload music and video.
Find out how you can you use these tools to engage young people with challenging behaviour to help develop a range of Core Skills. This workshop explores tools such as PhotoStory 3, Windows Movie Maker, Audacity and Microsoft Producer. You will get the opportunity to use digital cameras, videos to create engaging digital CV’s.
This is a hands-on workshop and lasts for a full day.
For further information about this course please contact the RSC Scotland North East or by phone: Tel: 0131 559 4778
To listen to an audio transcript select the play (arrow) button below.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the main international standards organisation for the World Wide Web
It is responsible for developing guidelines, software and tools to ensure that access to the Web is available to as many users as possible, regardless of ability.
As part of SENDA you must ensure that any content you develop and use as part of your learning resources is accessible, particularly on your college VLE.
The W3C therefore provide guidelines to ensure that learning content is accessible. TechDis have also provided some examples of interpretation, these are not exhaustive and are only provided as signposting. Find out how you can make your content more accessible log on to the Techdis site.
Other accessibility links include:
This site has a range of tutorials and articles on practical web accessibility. The 'Introduction to Web Accessibility'section is well worth a visit: http://www.webaim.org/intro/
The BBC's accessibility section is a great place to learn about how to use web technologies to improve access: www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility
This is a comprehensive resource that focuses on issues relating to multimedia and elearning and accessibility: www.skillsforaccess.org.uk
This one of the most popular accessibility forum aimed at the web developers. But don’t let this put you off. This is a great site for those who are new and/or experienced: www.accessibilityforum.org
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TechDis aims to be the leading educational advisory service, working across the UK , in the fields of accessibility and inclusion. TechDis aims to enhance provision for disabled students and staff in higher, further and specialist education and adult and community learning, through the use of technology.
TechDis is a JISC-funded service ( Joint Information Systems Committee).
BRITE stands for Beattie Resources for Inclusiveness in Technology and Education. The Initiative was established in 2001, with funding from the Scottish Executive and Scottish Further Education Funding Council, on the recommendation of the Beattie Committee.
The BRITE Initiative was set up to inform, train and assist the staff in Scotland 's colleges who work to include and support students, often through the effective use of enabling technologies.
BRITE have produced informative resources to support students with disabilities, for example deaf students and dyslexic students.
The 'Guide to Support Deaf Students' is an interactive resource which has been developed for students who are deaf, or have hearing loss, and the people who work with them. View the BRITE interactive resource to support deaf students.
Guide to Dyslexia is an online resource which tackles the subject of dyslexia in an informal but informative way.
AbilityNet is a charity that advises disabled people every year, ensuring that they can access IT.
AbilityNet also provide a number of very useful fact sheets which are now available on-line.
Skill is a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK. Find out more on the SKILL web site.
The Assist-I.T. web site is well worth a visit and offers excellent advice and guidance on many elements of accessibility in e-learning as well as information on free downloads, software and quick links some really good sites. Excellent resource and site!
Using a selection of short video case studies this site has practical advice about teaching inclusively providing an insight into what study is like for disabled students, and how educational establishments can make a difference. View the OU case studies.
The Skills for Access web site provides a comprehensive resource on issues relating to multimedia, e-learning and accessibility. Whether you're new to e-learning, want to know more about specific accessibility issues, or are an expert multimedia developer, you'll find information relevant to your needs.
Skills for Access also provides a range of video case studies of disabled students using technology to assist with e-learning.
