The WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) proposes to embed the capacity to transform and customize presentation of content based on individual user profiles within WGBH's TEACHERS' DOMAIN, a K-12 library of rich-media science resources that support standards-based teaching and learning. The project will enable teachers or students with disabilities to locate accessible resources within all current and future collections offered by TEACHERS' DOMAIN; identify what kind of content is being presented; determine if the content will transform to fit their presentation preferences; and identify equivalent or alternative forms of the content that better meets their stated preferences. The Center for Children and Technology at the Educational Development Center (EDC) will evaluate the usability and effectiveness of these resources with students with disabilities and their teachers.
Intellectual Merit of Project IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS) accessibility specifications have been developed by an international working group comprised of leading learning companies, educational institutions and standards groups. Specifications define a universally designed infrastructure for adaptable learning systems and content that will respond to individual needs and preferences. TEACHERS' DOMAIN will be the first-ever full implementation of IMS accessibility specifications embedded in a complete set of classroom resources. It will provide a real-world model that promotes accessibility as an essential design element that enables teachers and students to easily identify accessible learning content. Evaluation research will identify potential impacts on teacher practice and student learning and suggest areas to be explored in the future within large-scale assessments using these permanent resources.
Broad Impact of Project This project will result in a significant amount of accessible, high quality science resources that serve science educators and teachers working with students with disabilities. The project will be prominently profiled within major communities dedicated to technology and learning the National Science Digital Library, the IMS Global Learning Consortium, the National Science Teachers' Association and will utilize partner dissemination networks that regularly reach organizations and educators that serve students with disabilities; science educators and curriculum developers; state education systems and school boards; education-focused professional organizations and trade groups; developers and purchasers of distributed learning platform and resources; developers; and distributors and producers of educational multimedia. The project will also serve as an international model of how digital libraries that utilize IMS specifications can automatically respond to individual needs and preferences, paving the way for improved learning experiences for all users. This will set a standard of accessibility that teachers, students and administrators should demand from learning platforms and content providers. Ideally, this will help catalyze demand for accessible learning platforms and appropriately tagged resources. This outcome will greatly impact the ability of teachers to more effectively and efficiently meet their students' needs for accessible and meaningful content. It will also greatly impact the ability of students with disabilities to access and benefit from distributed learning resources.
