{"id":4336,"date":"2016-07-12T09:30:12","date_gmt":"2016-07-12T08:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/?p=4336"},"modified":"2016-08-02T14:57:40","modified_gmt":"2016-08-02T13:57:40","slug":"making-learning-accessible-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2016\/07\/12\/making-learning-accessible-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Making learning accessible through technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

How can we make learning easier for everyone? <\/span><\/p>\n

We all experience barriers to learning, but for some of us these challenges mean that we require additional support in order to complete everyday tasks pertaining to work or study. <\/span><\/p>\n

While everyone working in education has a responsibility to promote inclusivity and make learning as accessible as possible, it is also important to recognise that accessibility tools can be used by anyone to increase their productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here at the University of Sussex, we recently invited\u00a0<\/span>Alistair McNaught<\/span><\/a> from the\u00a0<\/span>Joint Information Systems Committee (Jisc)<\/span><\/a> to deliver a workshop on how technology can enable us to increase productivity and overcome barriers to learning. <\/span><\/p>\n

This blog post will attempt to summarise some of the most important tools introduced in this workshop and provide some brief suggestions about how these could be used in academic contexts. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Make text more readable<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Learners struggle with reading for a variety of reasons, such as dyslexia or visual impairment, but giving students\u00a0the ability to customise the format and appearance of a text allows them to experience it in a way that is more accessible to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Readability<\/span><\/a>, available both as a browser extension and multi-platform app, transforms any webpage into a cleaner format for reading. This is particularly useful for making text on crowded or ad-heavy websites more readable.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Before Readability:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Daily<\/a>

    Busy text excerpt taken from Daily Mail http:\/\/goo.gl\/N26v8S<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

    The same article after Readability:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Capture2\"

    An easier to read version http:\/\/goo.gl\/N26v8S<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

    If you want to convert text files, websites or plain text into another more accessible file type, then<\/span> RoboBraille<\/span><\/a> provides a useful service with a wide variety of output options.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. \n

      Adjust contrast and colours to be easier on the eyes<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The <\/span>High Contrast<\/span><\/a> extension for<\/span> Chrome<\/span><\/a> allows you to use high-contrast color filters which make it easier to read text. To achieve a similar effect, you can also use\u00a0<\/span>high contrast mode in Windows<\/span><\/a> or the\u00a0<\/span>invert colours feature<\/span><\/a> of the magnify tool in Windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"Accessibility\"<\/a>

      Original article http:\/\/goo.gl\/N26v8S<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

      F.lux<\/span><\/a> makes your computer’s display adapt its colour to the time of day. This is easier on your eyes and helps improve your quality of sleep by reducing the amount of blue light that your eyes are exposed to in the evening. For mobile devices, the\u00a0<\/span>Twilight<\/span><\/a> app on Android and\u00a0<\/span>Night Shift mode<\/span><\/a> in iOS 9.3 and above serve a function.<\/span><\/p>\n

      If you just want to magnify the size of the text, then\u00a0<\/span>Virtual Magnifying Glass<\/span><\/a> or<\/span> ZoomIt<\/span><\/a> are useful applications. This can be very useful when teaching or giving presentations, especially when displaying small text which cannot be resized or enlarging a particular part of an image. <\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. \n

        Increase your reading speed<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Spreeder<\/span><\/a>, and the <\/span>Chrome<\/span><\/a> extension <\/span>Spreed<\/span><\/a>, increase reading speed by displaying text rapidly, one word at a time, in the centre of the screen. They improve accuracy by highlighting particular letters and allow you to read without your eyes scanning across the page.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Demo of Spreed:<\/p>\n