In this article we discuss the contribution of digitalisation for equal participation in higher education. Its potential is often postulated, but accessibility is seldom examined in this context. Despite the challenges and difficulties created in the summer term of 2020, this semester has provided a great opportunity to collect data on digital teaching, as face‐to‐face teaching needed to be transformed into digital teaching. Based on two surveys conducted in the summer of 2020, current practices and students’ needs regarding accessibility are outlined. Despite the circumstances, it can be derived from the surveys that digital teaching generally provides a variety of advantages for students with disabilities, although some tools and platforms remain not fully accessible to them. Additionally, the results indicate that not only students with sensory impairments benefit from the principles of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (2018). In particular, the principles ‘operable’ and ‘understandable’ are beneficial for students with mental health difficulties. Regarding the assessment of accessibility features, the study shows that the perception of students with and without impairments is very similar.
Purpose Nearly all students use Internet-based social media to communicate and network. For those with complex communication needs who may benefit from augmentative and alternative communication, social media offer specific opportunities to participate. However, do students make use of them—or do they face new barriers? The aim of the study was to collect data on the types, frequency, and duration of Internet and social media use among students with complex communication needs, along with the barriers to and facilitators of use, and to compare their use with peers without disabilities. Method Twenty-four German secondary school students with complex communication needs and motor difficulties were surveyed by a questionnaire based on an Australian study. Results A majority (75%) of the participants used the Internet, with most using daily and on more than one device. Use for school activities played only a minor role. Instead, the Internet was most often used for recreational activities (e.g., listening to music, watching videos), followed by communication by e-mail or chat, and lastly for seeking information. Greater Internet use was desired by 88% of the participants. The data show technical and social difficulties in Internet access and use and indicate that literacy skills and motor skills influence the Internet use. Conclusion School education should address the desire for greater Internet use. The teaching of media literacy and the provision of appropriate assistive and/or mainstream technology are therefore needed. More research is required on how persons with complex communication needs can potentially and actually benefit from the use of social media and on how teaching how to use social media can lead to further digital and social participation.
Der Nutzung von Videos im Hochschulkontext werden verschiedene Potenziale zugesprochen (Dinmore, 2019). Damit aber alle Lernenden Videos nutzen und von diesen profitieren können, müssen diese barrierefrei umgesetzt werden. Ausgehend von dem Projekt „Degree 4.0“ an der Technischen Universität Dortmund, wird in diesem Beitrag die Umsetzung der Barrierefreiheit von (didaktischen) Videos – mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf Audiodeskription – und weitergehende Herausforderungen für die Arbeit mit (barrierefreien) Videos thematisiert. Besonders bei der Gestaltung von Audiodeskription müssen fachdidaktische Spezifika der Videos im Umsetzungsprozess berücksichtigt werden. Für die barrierefreie Gestaltung der Videos aus verschiedenen, im Projekt beteiligten Fachdidaktiken wurde ein Workflow entwickelt, der in diesem Beitrag vorgestellt wird.
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