Melissa Kingon - Online Course Developer
At Sage Campus, we believe in enriching the learning experience for all learners. That means delivering continual improvements to our courses and platform. This past year, our course development team has been working on a significant accessibility improvement program across all our online courses. We caught up with our Online Course Developer, Melissa Kingon, to find out more.
Can you tell us a bit about the improvements you’ve been working on?
I’d love to! In essence, we’re re-developing our content so that it’s more accessible to those using assistive technology. We’re doing this by replacing our inaccessible course activities with ones that are compatible with assistive technologies. We’re also adding ARIA labels, providing video transcripts, ensuring we meet color contrast standards and making the PDFs more accessible. Our goal is to eliminate as many of these barriers as we can and enhance the learning experience for all our learners.
How does prioritizing accessibility enhance the overall learning experience for all students?
When it comes down to it, enhancing accessibility means that people’s needs have been deliberately considered. When learners feel considered and respected, they are more likely to have a positive experience and participate more actively with their learning.
The specific changes we’re making to our courses mean that, overall, our course content is clearer, the activities are easier to interact with (whether you’re using a mouse, a keyboard or assistive tech), and everyone will have access to additional resources. For example, adding closed captions on video benefits not just those with hearing impairments, but also those who forgot their headphones and want to watch the video in a quiet library!
Learners have varied needs and preferences, and when we make these improvements, we benefit everyone, not just those with visible or invisible disabilities.
What challenges have you encountered along the way, and how have you addressed them?
Prioritizing accessibility during course design is one thing, but retroactively making content accessible is quite a different process! The biggest challenge was coming up with the game plan. We had to first figure out which activities needed replacing, identify and locate each instance of those issues, and then replace each activity with an alternative solution. There were lots of moving parts in this project, and multiple people contributing their expertise. We met regularly, kept checking that we were on the same page, and tested our solutions to make sure they did what we expected.
How do you balance the need for inclusivity and accessibility with other design considerations?
We use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to guide our design process, which really helps. It’s taught me that thinking about accessibility often creates greater choice for learners, which in turn unlocks improved engagement. We provide flexibility for learners, which makes the content more accessible and increases engagement. For example, we provide videos and transcripts. Instead of a learner skipping the video entirely because they are in a noise sensitive environment, they have the option to read the video transcript, meaning that they can still engage with the content. Another example is the WCAG required contrast ratios. Meeting these standards creates readable content, while providing visual interest from a design point of view.
What are some common misconceptions about accessibility in digital products, and how do you address them in your work?
One major misconception is that accessibility work can be finished. Honestly, I sometimes struggle with this one! The truth is that accessibility is not a list of tasks that can be marked as “done”. Instead, we’re continually working towards improving the experience of taking our courses by staying informed about the latest guidelines and re-testing things regularly. It’s an ongoing project that requires continual reflection and refinement – and being willing to adapt is crucial. At Sage Campus, we try our best to be transparent about what we have changed, where we have fallen short, and how we hope to improve.
Looking ahead to the upcoming launch of these accessibility remediations, what aspects are you most excited about sharing with users?
Hundreds of inaccessible components have been reworked and replaced, so I am excited to share more accessible content that feels fresh and new! Keyboard accessibility has improved, and aria labels have been added to improve screen reader experience, so I am thrilled that those using assistive technology will be able to engage more actively in our courses.
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