MIT 515

Creating ADA Compliant Courses

Competencies

Context and Conditions

“Creating Accessible E-Courses for All Students” project was designed and developed to create accessible online courses that meet Americans with Disabilities Act conditions. This project was a requirement for MIT 515: Web Teaching: Design & Development completed in Spring of 2007 under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Summerville.

Scope

The “Creating Accessible E-Courses for All Students” was to create to be fully functional training modules. I worked independently to design and develop the modules. In order to complete the project, I needed had to follow the instructional systems design process. Following the instructional goal, I had to conduct a learner analysis and instructional analysis. The project was a prototype for training instructors who are interested in creating online courses. Although this course has not been implemented, some of the information has been used in conjunction with another reference course in the Office of E-Learning.

Role

I served as the instructional designer, developer, project manager, and Subject Matter Expert (SME). As the instructional designer, I followed the instructional systems design process. Since this course was developed within a learning management system, I used the empty shell and designed the course utilizing the learning modules feature. I also designed examples of how a disabled person would view content using Adobe Captivate. The materials were designed and develop specifically for this course. In the design phase, I had to pick and choose the most important design features for an online course.

During the development phase, I also incorporated examples of how students with dyslexia view written material using Adobe Captivate and Photoshop. The PowerPoint’s and assessments were developed to be web ready.

As a manager of this project, I had to create a timeline in order to meet the deadline for this project. This included allocating a certain amount of time for the design phase and the development process. Furthermore, there had to be enough time to complete a course evaluation by other SME’s.

As the subject matter expert, I had to determine what information would best fit the performance objectives.

Reflection

I enjoyed creating this course because it allowed me to gain a better understanding of the ADA compliance issues from an instructor perspective. I also was able to increase my awareness regarding instructional design models for online learning. In addition, as a special education specialist, I was able to practice skills of applying my technical skills in creating accessible courses.

I found it difficult creating an asynchronous course that was able to address multiple learning styles and remain ADA compliant. If I could go back and make any changes, I would have tried to work more closely with Disability Services as SME’s. Working with Disability Services would have provided me with alternate ideas and perspectives. Furthermore, I could have collaborated with the Office of E-Learning to implement this course for new instructors teaching online.

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Domain of Instructional Design
Competencies	Job Description	Artifacts	Justification
Sequence learner outcome	Develop instructional flow Breakdown learning objectives into teaching points	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students	These artifacts demonstrate my ability to arrange tasks or materials the individual needs to accomplish in order to achieve the goal or goals
Specify instructional strategies and sequence the instructional strategies	Develop and provide recommendations for sequencing of instruction	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students	These artifacts demonstrate my ability to identify appropriate instructional strategies based using learner analysis, environmental analysis, and contextual analysis and then sequence the strategies effectively to achieve the learning outcome.
Determine instructional resources (media/computer technology) appropriate to instructional activities.	Making recommendations for action on activities such as instructional design technology and approaches	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students	These artifacts demonstrate my ability to assess instructional resources to determine their appropriateness for learner outcomes.
Select appropriate applied information technologies to achieve instructional objectives	Uses most current industry tools, learning models and processes to design blended training curricula and implement delivery venues appropriate to client/project	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students	These artifacts illustrate my ability to determine appropriate media based on learning outcomes, learners, learning strategies, learning environment and constraints.
The Domain of Development
Competencies	Job Description	Artifacts		Justification
Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of perception and visual learning applicable to the design and production of photographic instructional materials.	Use authoring tools and technologies, such as Flash and Dreamweaver, to create instructional materials	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		These artifacts demonstrate my ability to create multi-media instruction or web pages that incorporate principals for visual learning.
Demonstrate knowledge of computer utilization practices and the ability to apply them in instructional settings including: computer literacy, software selection and evaluation, instructional management, hypermedia development and distance learning.	Incorporating the use of best practice technology to support instruction as needed (i.e. creation of online instructional resources); adherence to the internal design process Work with authoring tools such as Adobe captivate, Macro media – Flash and Dreamweaver	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		These artifacts demonstrate my ability to develop online instruction for computer based training by using authoring tools such as Adobe Captivate, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Photoshop to create various materials and interactive training.
Design and produce computer-based instruction including drill-and-practice and tutorial programs.	Develop multi-multimedia instructional e-Learning material including; web based training, blended learning, electronic performance support systems, and other knowledge products. Designs instruction for stand-up, web-based, self-instructional and other types of performance –based learning interventions for industry-specific topics	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		These artifacts demonstrate my ability to design and develop computer-based self instructional and online instructional materials.
Design and produce interactive multimedia systems.		MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		These artifacts demonstrate my ability to produce learning modules that allow the user to interact with the training by including interactive components such as click boxes and interactive assessments that allow the learners to learn by doing.
Demonstrate knowledge and ability to design and produce self-instructional modules, training manuals, instructor's guides and job aids.	Develop and design training materials, including: Leader Guides, Participant Guides, Assessments, Agendas, job aids, etc Develop and deliver technology-related training and handouts and job-aids for faculty and staff	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		Various job aids, manuals, guides, and assessments were developed for these artifacts. MIT 500 and Blackboard Student Orientation are self instructional modules.
Design and produce mediated instruction.	Analyze, design, and develop classroom-based, instructor-led, online and web-based (e-learning) instructional content and course materials to be used by Trainers and other facilitators, incorporating an instructional system design (ISD) model that includes all phrases from analysis to evaluation for various audiences	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		These artifacts demonstrate my ability to use technology to deliver instruction.
Domain of Utilization
Competencies	Job Description	Artifacts		Justification
Apply principles of selection and use of materials and techniques relevant to a multicultural society (e.g., non-print, print, mass media, hardware, software, and other audiovisual strategies.	Designing training solutions that meet the needs of Adult Learners Conduct research on subject matter and incorporate varied learning strategies and methodologies to appeal to diverse learning preferences.	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		This artifact illustrates my ability to meet the needs of diverse learners using a variety of technology and/or media
Demonstrate a knowledge of the laws and regulations which govern the selection and utilization of media/emerging technology, including copyright, censorship, State Board Regulations, Local Board Policies, etc.	Must have knowledge of ADA and Section 508	MIT 515 – Web Teaching: Design & Development - Creating Accessible E- Courses for All Students		These artifacts demonstrate my knowledge and ability to apply laws and regulations to learning and training environments.