This section is full of timely and evidence-based practices to apply in your teaching.
- Importance of Closed Captions: Closed captions are essential for many students with disabilities, but they are also very helpful to students without disabilities. It’s not as commonly known that many students without disabilities use closed captions frequently, often using them as a learning aid. In the latest A11Y Corner blog post, UNCG Accessibility Fellow Heather Moorefield Lang shares her accessibility journey and how she’s used closed captions throughout her career as an educator. EDUCAUSE also has an article that explains the benefits of closed captions for all students.
- EDUCAUSE Inclusive Language Guide: EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education through the use of information technology. They provide resources and community-building opportunities that can shape the various levels of higher education. In their commitment to starting and sustaining dialogue to uncover the ways language can cause harm have developed an official style guide for inclusive, bias-free, and equitable language. The Inclusive Language Guide is helpful in approaching the issues with curiosity and guided discretion when choosing the actual words that are used to communicate with students, colleagues and those in the community.
- Rethinking Participation/Engagement: Is student engagement more than just speaking up in class? Do students understand the expectations of participation? Engagement can mean more than being present and asking questions. Consider sharing with students the different ways they can engage with the class. Explore more ways to discuss engagement with your students by reading Beth McMurtrie’s Chronicle article called, “Is It Time to Redefine Class Participation?”