In a perfect world, we’d all have enough time and funding to devote to course design so that the first time any user encounters it, the experience is flawless. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Instead, we are often faced with short deadlines and low budgets. How do we make the best use of that time and money to design a course that is accessible and usable by all?
Designing an accessible course means designing with the needs of people with disabilities specifically in mind.
Accessible design can also mean creating access and inclusion for everyone. Internet speeds in rural and urban areas, and the socioeconomic privileges and pitfalls that shape them, also fall under inclusion and access in accessible design.
One way we can work toward this goal is to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes — or, in the case of course design, click a mile with someone else’s mouse. What is it like for users with a variety of abilities to encounter our courses? How does experiencing a course the way they do change the way we approach design?
In this gamified session, participants use their personal devices to interact with augmented reality stations, experiencing course design from the perspective of a variety of users — for example, those with hearing and sight differences. At each station, it’s the participant’s job to identify the issue and offer a viable fix before time runs out. Everyone leaves with a new appreciation for how others experience online content, plus practical tips for designing for accessibility.