As an online educator, it’s essential to design lesson plans that your students can follow and comprehend easily, regardless of their background and abilities. It’s also important to be aware of accessibility needs, especially considering that 8 in 10 companies prioritize digital accessibility. The same applies to e-learning, in which the online user experience (UX) and accessibility have direct implications for its success.
Modern software and UX technology have made it easier than ever to engage your remote learners with optimized accessibility by promoting immersive, quality interactions. Here we’ll look at four effective strategies to boost your e-learning delivery so you can enrich the learning experience and provide the best value for each student through personalization and inclusivity.
Leading educators’ choice of accessibility tools like SoftChalk makes it easier to design accessible e-learning experiences without the guesswork, so you can focus on what you do best — teaching.
Leverage a Trusted Accessibility Tool
Leading educators’ choice of accessibility tools like SoftChalk makes it easier to design accessible e-learning experiences without the guesswork, so you can focus on what you do best — teaching. Softchalk is the brainchild of an education community committed to building and developing industry-compliant accessible learning for all.
The platform’s creators understand firsthand the common accessibility challenges faced by e-learning educators. Educators have especially liked several SoftChalk features, including its user-friendly interface and in-depth learner analytics.
SoftChalk maintains the highest accessibility standards, aligning its offerings with the internationally recognizedWeb Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and Level AA. The SoftChalk team believes in constantly testing and improving the platform’s performance, so you can expect efficient accessibility content that meets the latest regulations.
Diversify E-Learning Mediums And Formats
Varying your e-learning delivery accommodates users of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Some learners require visual aids such as screen readers to make the most of their e-learning journey, while others require audio solutions. You could also consider diversifying your e-learning modules through the power of repurposed content. For example, educators can expound on the main points of a short video tutorial via an in-depth blog article or in audiobook format.
SoftChalk makes it convenient to plan and present e-learning lessons by using various types of content, including video, flash animation, and audio elements. The SoftChalk platform offers over 20 types of interactive features, such as drag-and-drop quizzes and annotated text, to make your e-learning lessons engaging forall learning styles.
Support Various Accessibility Themes
The accessibility of your e-learning content depends on multiple factors, such as its color contrast, which affects readability. The following combination of measures can help you improve the accessibility of your e-learning lessons:
Applying alternative text: Clear, concise descriptions inform learners about the purpose and context of images used in e-learning. A screen reader reads it out to support the learning journey of individuals with visual, reading, or cognitive challenges.
Prioritizing logical layouts: Using effective headings and subheadings, applying user-friendly scroll bars and buttons, and minimizing distracting clutter (such as walls of text) can improve the accessibility of your e-learning content.
Acquiring feedback: Requesting prompt and regular feedback from learners allows you to identify and fix accessibility challenges in e-learning solutions. You can gather feedback with various tools, such as surveys, online interviews, and user tests, for an accurate assessment of learner perspectives.
SoftChalk’s ThemeBuilder provides customizable accessibility features, such as toggling color contrasts, font size, and type for optimized readability, which benefits learners with impaired vision or color vision.
You can access ThemeBuilder from SoftChalk’s dropdown menu and adjust various e-learning design elements, including banners, content, and sidebars. On top of ThemeBuilder’s built-in features, the platform also integrates seamlessly with third-party tools like Readspeaker, which reads content aloud (including alternative text) for highly accessible learning experiences.
Teaching With Data
Accurate learner data is vital for keeping educators informed about the effectiveness and accessibility of their e-learning programs. Centralized, frequently collected data provides the information you need to make the necessary improvements for UX excellence. SoftChalk’s score-tracking capabilities enable educators to keep a close tab on student performance and learning progression.
SoftChalk’s Score Center monitors course participation, attempted questions, and the strengths and weaknesses of students. The transparency empowers you to quickly identify potential accessibility issues and fine-tune future lesson plans accordingly. Optimized accessibility helps boost student engagement.
Specifically, you can advance lesson progression by tailoring lesson designs to learning needs. The Score Center also makes it convenient to track learner scores and offers various methods of presenting score charts, such as printed and emailed reports.
Start your 14-day SoftChalk trial today to discover how you can elevate the accessibility of your lessons.
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