What are some online course design tips for improving accessibility and inclusion?

1 Use universal design principles

Universal design is an approach that seeks to make products, environments, and services accessible to all people without the need for adaptation or specialized design. This approach can be applied to online courses to ensure they are inclusive for everyone, regardless of age, ability, language, culture, or learning style. To do this, provide multiple means of representation by offering different ways of presenting course content such as text, audio, video, images, graphics, and animations in clear and consistent formats with labels and headings. Additionally, provide multiple means of action and expression by offering different ways of engaging with course activities and assessments while allowing learners to choose their options, tools, and strategies. Lastly, provide multiple means of engagement by offering different ways of motivating and supporting learners' interest such as feedback, choices, challenges, rewards and creating a positive and respectful learning environment.

3 Incorporate inclusive pedagogy and practices

Inclusive pedagogy and practices are ways of teaching and learning that strive to promote diversity, equity, and social justice in online courses. These approaches create a sense of belonging and empowerment for all learners, particularly those who are marginalized or underrepresented in education. Incorporating inclusive pedagogy and practices into your online course design can involve acknowledging the diversity of learners and their backgrounds, needs, goals, and preferences. You can also encourage learner interaction and collaboration by providing various modes and platforms that suit their preferences and abilities. Additionally, providing clear guidance, instructions, expectations for the course activities and assessments as well as timely, constructive, personalized feedback that recognizes learners' strengths and challenges can help to support learners.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?