As we started to design learning activies, we realized how diffcult to everyone’s demand. Someone wants to learn something in a shrot time, someone wants to learn slow and steady. Somepne would like to have printed materials, someone wants everything to be paperless. We tried to disign an intrustion that most learners can use, but in the end we have to give up some of them. For example, all of our learning materials are online, so learners can not access internet can not follow our instrution. In the following of the bolg, I would like to answer some problems we meet in on inclusive design.
- How will your interactive learning resource specifically ensure that the needs of all learners can be met?
Our interactive learning resource is designed for beginners, which means all learners can follow our learning resource to learn. In addition, we integrated both desktop programming environment and mobile programming environment, so the learners can practice either on their desktop or mobile phone. However, there are still some restrictions of our learning designs. Firstly, learners without electric devices can not use our learning resource. Secondly, learners do not understand English can not use our learning resource.
2. How can you adjust your planned learning activities to meet the needs of your learners if an unexpected event occurs? (for example, a pandemic arises and many of your employees must now work from home – how will you ensure that they can still do their jobs? What training will they need, and how will you deliver it, knowing they must remain at home?) This is a common discussion thread right now as many schools and universities have made the switch to teaching online.
All of our learning resource are online and can be downloaded. Which means learners can store all learning resource into their desktop or mobile phone, so they can work on it no matter where they are at. We also designed our learning activities really short, so the learners can finish each of them in 15-20 minutes. They can find time to follow the learning resource even they are busy on working.
3. Choose one (or more) of your planned learning activities from your Blueprint and identify any barriers for student success. How can you alter or adjust your current plan to reduce those barriers?
When we first work on the design of final project, we realized it would be too hard for the learners to finish. They would not find out how to start working on the project. After discussion, we found a video for leanrers to watch. The video shows learners how to implement a simple python project. The learners will have some basic ideas of what they should do after watching the video.
4, Consider the learning environment for your current design. What potential barriers can be reduced or eliminated to provide more pathways for learner success?
For our current design, we consider the learning environment as anywhere with internet and desktop/laptop/mobile phone. All the learning resource can be used without internet if leaners download them. So the onle potential barrier is that learners do not have electric devices to use our learning resource. I guess the only way to reduce this potential barrier is that print all learning resource and mail to learners.
5. Besides curb cuts there are many examples of universal design in engineering. Choose an example of universal design in engineering and explain how it can be used as inspiration for a learning design.
For our topic, python programming. I think mobile programming application is a good universal design in engineering, some people may not have desktops, but most people have mobile phone. These application can help lerners to practice programming everywhere via their phone.