Earth Educators Rendezvous 2021 Poster Session III: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 14 JulyWednesday Online

Inclusive Universal Design Applied to Introductory Geosciences Learning Spaces

Wendi J. W. WilliamsSouth Texas College / Department of Physical Sciences and Engineeringwwilliam@southtexascollege.edu

Accessible PosterTutorialCommentsIn order to foster a more inclusive experience, this presentation attempts to be more accessible to all attendingwhether or notone identifies as being a Person with Disability (apparent and non apparent). If this was a printed poster, I would hang itateasy readingheight split between wheelchair seated-to standing-level access and make a digital version available, as well. For this EER online digital event, this poster was built in PowerPoint* with careful attention to using high contrast and sans serif largerfonts. Further, the color palette selected is to better serve awider range of visioned guests including those with Color Vision Deficiency. Content has been maximized for screen-reader use by both visioned (but may have a learning disability) and non visioned guests. Objects used in this slide have been ordered for logical screen-reader flow. In this case, to mimicthe visual flow starting from the top left corner sweeping initially left to right, but then in each of the four graphical regions below from left to right then downward within each area before proceeding to the next one to the right. Hyperlinks are embedded into word or phrase using the link tool in the slidegenerator so those using a screen-reader do not have to listen to each character read separately (tedious). However, in the editable .pptx format one can hover the cursor over the word or phrase to access the full web address. Please note that a few alternative formats provided are from running thispresentation through the Ally feature included within the Course Management System I can access through my institution. Andbesure to ungroup objects ultimately to order for screen reader use. *Google Slides also has recommended accessible slidetemplates and accessibility checker.

ABSTRACT

OverviewsandgeneralizedexamplesofhowtoapplyUniversalDesigninInstruction(UDI)withembeddedstrategiestodiminishbarriersforPersonswithDisabilitieshavebeensharedduringearlierEarthEducatorRendezvoussessions(2017and2018)andthrougharecentNAGTProfessionalWebinar(28April2021)topromotebetterdesignforequityandinclusioninvariousSTEMlearningspaces.ThisposterincludesasynopsisofstrategiesforapparentandnonapparentdisabilitiesandfocusonseveralintroductorygeoscienceactivitiesmodifiedandmappedtoUDIguidelinesaddressingengagement,representationandaction–expression.Thisistoprovidediscipline-specificexamplesdesignedfor:(1)accessthroughrecruitinginterestandprovidingoptionsforperceptionandphysicalaction;(2)buildingskillstosustainandpersist;and(3)internalizingthroughself-regulation,comprehensionandexecutivefunction.UDIreachesawiderangeoflearnersand,additionally,isbestmodeledforpre-serviceteachercandidatesalsoenrolledingeneralcoreintroductorycourses.

FROM ONE PRACTITIONER TO ANOTHER

Ihavebeenfacultywithboth2YCand4YCUinstitutionssince~1996,butitwaswhenIwaspartofaUA-LittleRockcohorttolearnandimplementinclusiveUniversalDesigntechniquesduringtheearly2000’sthatIbegantodeliberatelyusemulti-modaldeliveryandstudent-centeredlearningstrategieswithmystudents.Itisnowmy“wayofdoing”thatincorporatespedagogicalbestpractices(anexamplefollowsbelowfromSAGE2YC)whichIhavefoundtonotonlybetterengagealllearningpreferencesandmostpersonswithdifferingabilities.Holisticapproach.ApplyingUDLmakesmemuchbetterpreparedasImeetnewstudentseverytermwithlessandlessreal-timenewaccessibilityaccommodationadaptationsneeded.Pleaseconsiderlearningmoreoverarchingconsiderations

fromthe28April2021NAGTProfessionalWebinarbymyselfandSeanThatcher:InclusionthroughSTEMExperiences.

Another “go to” source of holistic approaches for student success is

SAGE 2YC

(focusing upon

community

college students,

however much of

this is applicable

to a much broader

range of students

in my opinion.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN PORTALS TO

LAUNCH YOUR EFFORTS

Universal Design guidelines naturally include many of the suggested“best practices” for learner-centered instructions, such as use ofappropriate* :

• ●Visual and Auditory Media
• ●Tactile Representations
• ●Interpersonal Strategies and/or Learning Space Management
• ●Routines and Predictable Structure or Patterns to “Doing”
• ●Blended Instructional Techniques

*Remembering that what is one person’s “appropriate” may beanother person’s barrier...

The two groups that I use frequently for guidance are:

Universal Design for Learning Guidelines

DO-IT Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology

ForanoverviewofUniversalDesignforequalaccessandalsoaboutnonapparent(invisible)disabilitiesinhighereducation,pleaseaccess*thefollowingtwostreamingvideosfromTheDOITCenter.Notethatvariousembeddedaccommodationsareexamplesofclosedcaptioning(CC)andmoreadvancedbutrecommendedscenenarration/audiodescriptions(whichyoumayrecognizeavailableforyourhomeusethroughentitiessuchasNetflixandAmazonPrime,forinstance.

Invisible Disabilities and

Postsecondary Education

To learn more aboutscene narration(also referred to asaudiodescription)...consider the Library of Congress National Library Servicefor the Blind and Print DisabledAudio Description Resource Guide.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT UDL GUIDELINES

Consider what you/we DO / CAN DO in learning spaces…

CAST UDL GUIDELINES (Interactive at their site.)

Many of the topics we encountered earlier at the

SAGE 2YC Student Success site easily tie in to the

holistic approaches in the above UDL Guidelines.

Please consider eachlink andmaptheletters to allaspectsthat you consideraddressingtheUDLmatrix.How can we

adapt, as well?

ATaphonomy: Dead and Fossilized Board Game

BSocietal Implications of Climate Change: Stakeholder Report

CIntroduction to MATLAB for Oceanographic Data

DSlicing Cylinders

EContour Mapping With Playdough

Also pleaseconsider what adaptations would helpaddress American with Disabilities Act (ADA)compliance using UDL strategies.

SOME ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Here are somethings to think about that would help addressAmerican with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance using UDLstrategies.

Basic background on Color Vision Deficiency (CVDmodern term) andCoblis color blindness simulator

Anomalous Trichromacy

Dichromatic

Monochromatic

Is this familiar to you from geology?

On the right are examples of how“looks” to people with CVD (tri, di andmono). Please consider how color isused in our interactions. Ideas?

Avoidonly conveyingkey data as RGB colorpalette. Use symbols,types of lines and distinct line weights to help visually discern. Provideobjective description as Alt Tag, detailed figure caption, or in narrativefor both visual andnon visual(auditory with screen-reader) access.

If you work with web and application coding projects and/or consideradopting products to use in your learning and work environment,pleasefollow these protocols or preferentially acquire only ADAcompliant tools moving forward...

World Wide Web Consortium

Making the Web Accessible

Web Accessibility Tutorials

Also seek out mobile app accessibility.

A primer to consider is a free eBook found atUsableNet

Please visit28 April 2021 NAGT Webinar for

additional resources including articles.

A quick sampling from theTeach the Earth Portal (filtered for ExemplaryActivities then filtered for Geology) provides us with content to considerthrough the lens of Universal Design. I then selected a few activitiesappropriate for introductory geology courses that

do have UD elements. As with any item, there are “spot on” aspects andways to adopt and adapt to increase Universal Design and accessibilitywith respect to Persons with Disabilities.

NOTE: I want to thank each of the authors for submitting to the SERC site over theyears . Your willingness to share to the broader community is IMMENSE!