A computer-based test to raise awareness of disability issues

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this poster is to share our experience of a staff development tool that has been developed to raise awareness amongst staff about issues that students with disabilities might face. A computer-based test has been created as a training tool to raise awareness among university academic staff of some common experiences faced by people with visual, mobility, hearing and cognitive difficulties when using a computer [1]. The development team is based at Leeds Metropolitan University and is part of a UK centrally-funded "Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning" (CETL) [2], in collaboration with the Universities of Durham, Newcastle and Leeds. The Centre is devoted to promoting "Active Learning in Computing" (ALiC) [3] and is the only CETL within the Computer Science academic area. This test simulates experiences of disabled students who use computers and take computer-based tests, and provides advice and guidance to university teaching staff on how they may best cater for the needs of such students. The poster presents the reasons for creating such a tool in such a format, its structure and content.

REFERENCES

• 1: Harrison, G. and Gray, J. A Computer-Assisted test for Accessible Computer-assisted Assessment. In Proceedings of the 10th CAA International Computer Assisted Assessment Conference, Loughborough, UK, July 4-5 2006.
• 2: HEFCE: Higher Education Funding Council for England (2005) Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. http://www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/TInits/cetl/ (last visited 05 March 2008)
• 3: CETL ALiC Leeds Metropolitan University (2006) http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/inn/alic (last visited 05 March 2008)

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.2 Social Issues
          Subjects: Handicapped persons/special needs**

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
computer assisted test, disability awareness, staff development