Developing Accessible Online
Math and Science Courses
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
What is the 2+2 Program?
Collaborative effort between the
N.C. Community College System
and the University of North
Carolina General Administration
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Long Term Goal
Increase the number of math and
science teachers in North
Carolina
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Main Audience
• Lateral entry teachers
• College students
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
LEARN NC’s Role
Develop university-level online
courses in science and math
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Key Players
• UNC General Admin
• Faculty (course developers)
• Project Manager/Instructional
Designer
• Web Developer
• Pedagogy Committee Review
• Accessibility Consultant
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Key Challenges
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Limited resources
Program requirements
Faculty developers
Blackboard
Browsers
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Challenge 1
Limited Resources
•
•
•
People
Technology
Time
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Challenge 2
Program Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
Shareable
Textbook independent
Blackboard
Accessible
Downloadable and printable
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Challenge 3
Faculty Developers
• Online experience varied widely
• Computer skills varied widely
• Teaching styles
• Different hardware and software tools
• Some used Word to develop images
• Limited time
Examples
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Challenge 4
Blackboard 6
• Requires Explorer 6/7 for math ml
rendering
• Must prepackage all math ml files
• Doesn’t allow for use of css stylesheets
• Navigation is restricted
• Equation editor is limited and clunky
• MathML Equation Editor very hard to use
• Tests are not accessible
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Challenge 5
Browsers
•
•
•
•
Lack of control of font set up
Unicode/Jaws issues
Mac vs PC users
Must use Explorer 6 or 7/Math Player on
computer for files to open
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Authoring
Solutions
• Authoring using MS Word and Math Type
(Workflow handout)
• Word forms
• Word 2007
• Images (Jing demo)
• Nemeth Braille
• PDF
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Examples
Abstract Algebra Course
Accessibility Folder (Geometry course)
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Conclusion
Creating accessible content is possible,
even with limited resources
• Find mentors – ask questions
• Experiment with free tools
• Address one aspect of the problem at a
time
• Test, test, test
• Document your work
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University
Contact Information
Gail Burchfiel
LEARN NC
School of Education, University of North Carolina
CB#7216
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
gburchfiel@learnnc.org
(919)962-7952
Saroj Primlani
Coordinator of University IT Accessibility
Office of Information Technology
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695
http://ncsu.edu/it/access
(919)513-4087
Gail Burchfiel, LEARN NC
Saroj Primlani, NC State University