Accessibility Features 

(For EVERYONE) 

In Schoology

 

@LisaBerghoff

Some of you are familiar with Universal Design For Learning. I found the UDL framework from CAST about the same time I became interested in Design Thinking and the intersection of the two led me to believe that much of the way I thought about teaching students who struggle with learning was just plain wrong. In case you're new here, let me catch you up. Universal Design For Learning is a framework, based in neuroscience, that emphasizes the need for options for students in the areas of engagement, action and expression, and representation. The UDL guidelines 3.0 are being unveiled in July of 2024 and I am so excited to see the updated version. To see the current version, click here. The basic gist is that as educators our job is to try to remove barriers to student learning by providing multiple means for students to be engaged, take in information, and show what they know. Universal Design is a design principle that states that environments should be accessed and understood by all. 

It is through these ideas that I have come to understand that when we design for the edges, everyone benefits. Accessibility tools may be created for people with specific disabilities, but by allowing everyone to use them, there will be advantages for all. 

With spring assessments coming up, this seemed like a good time to take a look at the accessibility features found within Schoology.

1. Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader is built in to all Schoology assignments, pages, and discussion boards. It rolled out a few years ago but it's kind of incredible to me how few people have actually clicked on it. When you open immersive reader, you will notice that the text loads in a dyslexic friendly font. You have the ability to have the text read to you, and of course the ability to adjust the reading settings, including the reader speed and voice. In addition, you can have the text translated into many languages. You can also have the syllables separated and the parts of speech color coded. There is also a line focus feature which only shows a small amount of text on the screen and a picture dictionary. 

Here is what it looks and sounds like:

Check out the other features here:

2. Accessibility Checker

In case accessibility is not in the forefront of you mind at all times, there is a built in accessibility checker that will help you make sure your content is accessibility friendly.

When you are in the editor, just click on the accessibility icon and it will walk you through any issues you may have and what to do to rectify them. Take a look at how it works:

3. Assessment Settings

The assessment toolbar settings can offer many options to students that can help keep them on task and lower anxiety. As the teacher, you need to adjust the settings to make these features available. 

Allow students to be able to flag questions so they can go back and review them later.

Allow students to eliminate answer choices in multiple choice questions.

Allow for the use of a calculator, ruler, or protractor.

Allow students to highlight text.

Provide a notepad for students. 

4. Create Pop-Up Content In Assessment Questions:

Did you know that you can add pop-up content in your assessments? Help your students help themselves by including clarifying information for them. If a student asked you during the assessment, you would answer, so why not provide it to all and let them click instead of calling you over for help. When you are editing your question, highlight some text and then click the icon to add pop-up content. You can then type in clarifying text or you can even add an image. Click on preview to see how the question appears to students. Here is what it looks like when it's done.

5. Allow Students To Submit In Text, Audio, Or Video. 

Discussion questions are a wonderful way to continue the sense of community you create in the classroom. It can also give opportunities for students to participate in ways that they might not when you are in class together. When you create a discussion question in Schoology, all students have an equal opportunity to share and be heard. Students can respond to Schoology discussion prompts by typing text, recording audio, or recording video. What is nice is that the recordings happen right in Schoology so there's no saving, downloading, or uploading to do. You and your students can also respond to each other in the same manner. All your students need is permission from you to give it a try.

When you click in the discussion box to respond, all you need to do is click on the microphone icon. 

Then, choose the recording type.

Click to begin recording.

Click again to stop recording and then choose insert audio/video. If you don't like it, you can always rerecord.

By allowing students to choose the mode in which they respond, you can make your online discussions more accessible to all students.

Ok, these are my top five favorites. Which ones do you love that I missed? Which ones will you try? Want some help? I'm here for you!