How do JISC TechDis Support Continuing Professional Development in Business and Community Engagement?

The Auril Continuing Professional Development framework identifies six roles that a Knowledge Transfer Professional should be able to fulfil:

• Manage Information and Communication;
• Manage Relationships;
• Manage Projects;
• Manage the Commercial Interface;
• Manage Operations within a Legal Context;
• Problem Solve and Manage the Decision Making Process.
  

JISC TechDis has developed a number of materials that are useful within the "Managing Operations within a Legal Context" role, particularly relating to the DDA, SENDA and the new Disability Equality Duty.

Case Studies

In 2006 JISC TechDis worked with the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre Network to run the Higher Education Assistive Technology (HEAT) Scheme. The scheme allowed Higher Education Institutions to bid for technologies to be used in innovative ways to support teaching and learning. The scheme resulted in 18 projects covering the use of multimedia (such as podcasts and video), assistive technologies (such as the Tactile Talking Tablet used in conjunction with tactile diagrams) and more mainstream technologies (such as the Nintendo DS and mind mapping software). Three rounds of the HEAT scheme have now been funded. In 2006-7 and 2007-8 the scheme was jointly funded by the JISC TechDis service and the Higher Education Academy. In 2008-9 the scheme has been funded by JISC's capital fund and extended to further projects in Wales and Northern Ireland by the Higher Education Academy.

Exemplar Materials

Accessible Learning Objects

In 2006, BECTA and JISC TechDis jointly commissioned TATA Interactive to produce a learning object to show how an interactive learning object could be built in a way that was accessible. The finished product compares two versions of the same learning object; one very familiar but completely inaccessible version and the other as an accessible object. It shows examples of the coding necessary to produce the accessible version, and users can view the same material in two separate formats. The object also includes information about assistive technology and examples of when it is used.

Example Learning Object

The Accessibility Passport

In 2006 JISC TechDis developed the concept of the Accessibility Passport - a document that would accompany a learning resource designed to deliver information about the accessibility of that resource, as well as alternate strategies and delivery methods to suit a range of contexts and learners. Users of the resource would have the ability to add their own feedback to the resource, thus informing future users.

More information about the Accessibility Passport

Staff Development Resources

Creation of e-Learning Materials

JISC TechDis offer a variety of resources designed to provide guidance on the creation of accessible e-learning resources, including the use of mobile learning devices.

• The Holistic Approach to e-learning. JISC TechDis believe that it is inappropriate to solely apply a series of web accessibility guidelines (e.g. W3C WAI WCAG) on e-learning material without taking other factors into consideration. This page provides further information about the holistic approach taken by JISC TechDis, which recognises that an accessible resource for one learner may be an inaccessible resource for another and therefore 'inaccessible' e-learning resources may be deployed provided that disabled learners are still able to demonstrate the required learning outcomes in a way which does not disadvantage them or their non-disabled peers.
• The JISC TechDis Staff Packs is a resource providing easily adaptable resources for use within staff development sessions, covering a series of accessibility related topics.
• Guidelines for Staff involved in e-Learning
• Guidance on the Creation of Learning Content
• Guidance on m-Learning and Accessibility
• An overview of the free and low-cost technologies that can be used to create engaging and accessible learning resources.
  

Xerte

Traditional learning resources depend heavily on text but text-heavy content puts up accessibility barriers for many learners. The Xerte Online Toolkit is an Open Source content creation tool developed by the Information Services team at the University of Nottingham. It allows non-technical staff to create rich, interactive engaging resources with high levels of accessibility. As a result of the developer's commitment to accessibility, JISC TechDis has actively supported the evolution of the Xerte tool into a tutor-friendly resource and is currently engaged in disseminating the inclusion benefits to all sectors. Recent developments of MAXOS (Moodle and Xerte on a Stick) have been of particular interest to practitioners involved in the work-related learning/work-based learning/BCE sectors. For further information on Xerte please visit the JISC TechDis Xerte page.

Everyday technology

The JISC TechDis Accessibility Essentials is designed to give practical, step-by-step guidance to using everyday technologies more accessibly. The series covers the creation of accessible documentation and accessible presentations.

Accessibility Essentials 1: Making Electronic Documents More Readable shows the reader how to alter the appearance of an existing document to suit them, and covers Microsoft® Word and Internet Explorer, Adobe® Reader and Mozilla Firefox.
Accessibility Essentials 2: Writing Accessible Electronic Documents with Microsoft® Word outlines the techniques people need to ensure the writing of accessible electronic information. This document will concentrate on guidance for Microsoft® Word.
Accessibility Essentials 3: Creating Accessible Presentations provides information on the creation of accessible presentations, both for projection and wider use (for example, when a presentation is made available online) along with hints and tips on how to present to an audience in an accessible manner. This document focuses on the use of Microsoft® PowerPoint.
Accessibility Essentials 4: Making the Most of PDFs provides step-by-step information to enable anyone creating Portable Document Format (PDF) documents do so in a more accessible manner. These hints and tips will benefit those who create PDF documents using scanned materials or word processed documents, or receive a PDF version of publicity materials from a graphic designer.

Employer engagement

Employer engagement initiatives should recognise that many employers are now concerned about the new legislation with regard to embedding equality & diversity, and particularly what is best practice in relation to the use of Technology and accessibility. JISC TechDis have produced guidance as to issues such as the need to produce accessible marketing materials or providing senior management with toolkits to look upon accessibility as giving a return on their investments.
The JISC TechDis Senior Managers Briefing Series
Although written for senior management within FE colleges, the briefing series contains useful information on a number of relevant topics such as developing a practical Disability Equality Scheme and producing accessible marketing materials.