Let’s talk about Accessibility in EdTech
An important topic in education, we take a look at how you can ensure learning is accessible for every student!
What is Accessibility?
When we talk about accessibility, we’re talking about making sure everyone in the classroom has equal access to the tools and technology they need to learn.
Creating an accessible learning environment for students is key as we move forward into the age of technology driven teaching. Student-centred and tech-driven classrooms are growing in popularity and are making a big difference when it comes to teaching and learning! With more ed-tech tools cropping up to fulfil every need of the modern classroom, ensuring these tools and platforms are accessible is key!
Why accessibility matters
When accessibility is used in learning environments, students of all backgrounds can be involved in the classroom. Accessibility functionalities in tech-tools allow students of all abilities to focus on their learning. This will result in all learners engaging and participating with the lesson at hand. Accessibility matters because it’s about more than just the tools! It’s about the context those tools are used in.
The benefits of accessibility in education technology
Accessibility in ed-tech can create better learning experiences for students, and can improve academic performance. These enhanced learning experiences can lead to students feeling empowered, inspired, and excited to continue their learning journey. Using accessibility driven technology is a great way to achieve this: classrooms infused with technology can provide equal learning opportunities to all students!
Creating an accessible classroom
Having an accessible classroom is key in creating an environment that students love to learn in. There are so many ways you can do this!
Make the most of Immersive Reader: Microsoft’s Immersive Reader improves reading for students, no matter what their ability or age is! This is powerful for students that are not fluent in the first language spoken in your classroom, and for students that need more assistance.
Join the conversation: there are a lot of ideas for making your class more accessible! Educators around the world share their thoughts on achieving an accessible classroom. Find just a few of them right here!
How is Wakelet accessible?
At Wakelet, we’re always looking for ways to make the platform more accessible, so every educator and learner can unleash the full power of the platform! Right now on Wakelet, our accessibility features include:
Adding alt text to images and GIFs within a collection! Wakelet is awesome for sharing visual materials with your learning community; the ability to add alt text to your images enables every learner to access your content!
Wakelet’s integration with Immersive Reader allows learners to view notes and text as a full screen item, have the text read aloud, and can also make changes to the way the text looks in terms of color, font, and size. Immersive Reader also allows students to translate text too!
Wakelet is available in 12 languages! You can change your default language in your account settings by clicking on the 3 dot menu in the top right hand corner of your screen and clicking ‘account settings’. Navigate to to ‘Languages’ in the menu on the left hand side of the page, and select your chosen language.
We also have some new accessibility features coming soon to Wakelet too. These include keyboard navigation and screenreader support!
Inclusive learning environments are a natural by-product of accessibility. These inclusive environments provide students with the tools they need to learn and take their academic achievements to a whole new level!