1/9 Shifting to #RemoteTeaching feels daunting. Some Universities are showering Instructors with resources, others are late to adapt.

In all cases, folks feel the pressure to ‘get online.’ Wondering how to prioritize the needs of your learners? A thread.

#AcademicChatter

2/9 Not all student with access needs will self-identify. Anticipating the needs of your students is an important step in creating an accessible community.

#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

3/9 Invite students to share what helps them learn- but don’t request disclosures. Engage your course with the knowledge that all students could benefit from an accessible learning community.

#AcademicChatter #edutwitter

4/9 For @zoom_us + @MicrosoftTeams classes, ensure students know how to use the live captioning feature. Provide these instructions via email prior to meeting.

Include a note on how to add your pronouns to Zoom (after your first name) or in Teams (under the status bar).

5/9 For video recordings, provide text alternatives. Transcriptions are beneficial for folks regardless of ability and increase engagement: Remember classes should include Transcript, Closed Caption, Video. Amara is a free platform: https://amara.org/en/ 

6/9 Ensure text is readable by assistive technologies. Do not use screen shots to share text based documents. Use sans-serif fonts that are 12 points or larger.

https://www.queensu.ca/accessibility/how-info/accessible-documents/creating-accessible-word-documents-windowsmac

7/9 Use descriptive names for all content- your learning platform should be a road map to success. Likewise, use alt text on all images even if they are decorative.

8/9 Develop assessments with flexibility. Create a buffer for submissions and anticipate hiccups. Unnecessary penalties for late submissions reduce student engagement and create more anxiety about learning.

Compassion > Grades. At the end of every submission is a learner.

9/9 #RemoteTeaching is a new obstacle, check in with your students and colleagues on what’s working + what requires improvement.

Strive for flexibility.

Be gentle with yourself and others.

#AcademicChatter #educhat