Videos can be a powerful medium by which to explain ideas and demonstrate concepts. Adding closed captions to the video ensures any user can perecive meaning from it. It also makes the video a more usable experience for all users as well as achieving compliance with both the Department of Premier and Cabinet circular C2012-08 and the Disability Standards for Education (2005). What are… Continue Reading The power of captions…Continue Reading The power of captions
Month: January 2015
Recommended iBooks
Supporting diverse learners The following books are available for free on the iBooks Store. Alchin, Greg: Inclusive Design for iBooks Author Davies, Jeanette: Dyslexia Davies, Jeanette: iPad Tips and Tricks with a focus on accessibility Harrison, Michael: iHear Hills, Christopher and Perez, Luis: Handsfree Hills, Alchin, Harrison, Davies and Woodbridge Accessibility at Home Perez, Luis: Apple… Continue Reading Recommended iBooks…Continue Reading Recommended iBooks
iPad Model Classroom
In this book Craig Smith, Aspect Practice Specialist with Autism Spectrum Australia (and Apple Distinguished Educator), takes readers on a journey through a week in an iPad Model Classroom. Each day of the week is abound with a showcase of innovative best practice ideas and learning activities to help educators creatively implement iPad in their classrooms.… Continue Reading iPad Model Classroom…Continue Reading iPad Model Classroom
An introduction into eBooks
In July 2010, ebook sales on Amazon surpassed hardcover book sales, and then six months later beat the paperback books sales rate. An Ebook is a generic term for any digital representation of a book. This includes formats such as PDF, HTML, ASCII text, Word, DTB aongst others, as well as EPUB. An EPUB is… Continue Reading An introduction into eBooks…Continue Reading An introduction into eBooks
Typographic design
There are many information design decisions that we make as part of the process of creating high quality learning resources. These range from selecting age appropriate content, through to the structure of the information as well as graphical design issues. Many teachers wrongly apply paper-based design rules when designing digital resources. This inadvertently causes barriers… Continue Reading Typographic design…Continue Reading Typographic design
What can teachers learn from great marketing campaigns?
No matter what profession you are in, we can all benefit from fresh perspectives. Sometimes the best ideas comes from outside the profession or organisation as it creates a shift in our thinking about the situation or task. So what can teachers learn from great marketing campaigns? Not the dodgy cheap and nasty advertisements but… Continue Reading What can teachers learn from great marketing campaigns?…Continue Reading What can teachers learn from great marketing campaigns?
ePub tools for iPads
There are a range of apps that enable learners to create and publish their own ePubs directly from their iPad. Here are some examples. Composer by Demibooks Book Creator for iPad by Red Jumper Studio Creative Book Builder by Tiger Ng dotEPUB is browser bookmarklet that allows learners to convert any webpage into an ePub. Case Study A look… Continue Reading ePub tools for iPads…Continue Reading ePub tools for iPads
Spotlight on Dr Luis Perez
Dr Luis Perez is an educator, author, presenter and inclusive learning consultant with a passion for accessibility and universal design. Dr Perez is losing his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. He is also a keen photographer. Dr Perez believes that ‘today is the best time in history to be blind.’ You can follow Luis on Twitter @_luisfperez…Continue Reading Spotlight on Dr Luis Perez
The puzzle of motivation
Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don’t: Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward….Continue Reading The puzzle of motivation
Consistent teacher judgement of learning materials
C0-authors: Greg Alchin & Lisa Tonkin Introduction The core quality benchmarks for any learning material is that all learners are able to use and engage with the material on the same basis from the start. This involves curating or creating resources that all learners can perceive, understand, and utilise to accomplish their educational goals. This process is underpinned by… Continue Reading Consistent teacher judgement of learning materials…Continue Reading Consistent teacher judgement of learning materials
Digital style guide
All digital education content (created / curated) must comply with the Disability Standards for Education. To achieve this, it must be discoverable and usable from the start by any learner to enable them actively participate on the same basis on the device of their choice. Creation / curation All content and systems must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines v2 (WCAG 2)… Continue Reading Digital style guide…Continue Reading Digital style guide
Conditions of collaboration
An essential skill of modern work and learning environments is the need to collaborate. There are many conversation tools that enable collaboration, but what are the mindsets and behaviour that builds collaboration? Listed below are the essential qualities to build a collaborative culture. Share a common goal or purpose Communicate easily with common vocabulary Have ownership Have… Continue Reading Conditions of collaboration…Continue Reading Conditions of collaboration
Spotlight on Christopher Hills
Christopher Hills is an up and coming video editor who is not defined by his disability. Chris is an Apple Certified Pro Final Cut Pro X specialist and an Accessibility Ambassador. Chris calls himself a geek with cerebral palsy. He uses the inbuilt single switch access in his Mac Book Pro and iPad to run… Continue Reading Spotlight on Christopher Hills…Continue Reading Spotlight on Christopher Hills
How to start collaborating among schools
The talk about modern literacies… about becoming a globally connected educator… and having your students collaborate with peers from around the world is great…. BUT how do you actually DO it? Let’s take a specific look at steps you can take to make it happen and look at plenty of examples of learning in and… Continue Reading How to start collaborating among schools…Continue Reading How to start collaborating among schools
Understanding collaboration
More than ever, how we play, learn and work involves working with others to engage in meaningful productive activity. Collaboration enables us to share resources, ideas and perspectives, build consensus and achieve shared goals. As such it can increase the success of teams as they engage in collaborative problem solving. Collaboration also allows us to… Continue Reading Understanding collaboration…Continue Reading Understanding collaboration
Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools
to see the expanded list of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools available. This certainly makes it easier for content creators and administrators to ensure that their These Web accessibility evaluation tools are software programs or online services that help determine if web content meets accessibility guidelines. Information about features of evaluation tools that help with evaluation is in… Continue Reading Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools…Continue Reading Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools