Introduction to Digital Accessibility: Delivering inclusive digital content
Fundamentals of the government’s digital design and web standards, practice from both the academic and practitioner perspectives.
Course overview
This micro-credential will focus on developing the theoretical, legislative and practical knowledge of public, private and educational sector employees involved in the design, delivery or support of digital services and environments to public end users in New Zealand.
This course covers the relevant fundamentals of the government’s digital design and web standards, international accessibility standards/legislation and core industry best practice from both the academic and practitioner perspectives.
What you'll learn
- Factors that reduce the accessibility of digital content
- Cultural perspectives on accessibility
- Obligations and incentives to improve accessibility
- Implementing accessibility practices
- Perspectives from accessible technology experts, industry practitioners and end users
- How to recognise the key features, relevance and importance of accessible online information and services
- How to identify potential opportunities for accessibility improvement of digital information and services
- How to communicate concepts, standards and the good practice of accessible design through oral, written and visual methods
Course modules
- What is digital accessibility and why is it important?
- How can we design, develop and test content and services for accessibility?
- How can we effectively communicate best practice in digital accessibility?
Further Information
Format
- This course will be taught through a combination of live online teaching and online learning.
- There will be 3 x 3-hour live online workshops in weeks 1, 3 and 5 of the course. These workshops will be active and project-based and will focus on enhancing and providing a critical lens to the online activities. Each workshop will relate to one of the critical questions.
- In week 6 of the course, there will be a final 1 x 3 hour student presentation session.
Workload
Key digital content, reading, and activities will be delivered online, equating up to 20 hours of online contact. This includes video case studies, readings, online discussion, and reflective activities.
Assessment
|
Assessment items and workload per item |
% |
CLO(s) |
|
Weekly blog post and peer reflection on core concepts, reading and online content (four 250 word posts, 15% per blog entry)
|
60% |
1, 2, 3 |
|
Presentation on the development of an accessibility resource (10 minute individual presentation)
|
40% |
1, 2, 3 |
What is a micro-credential?
A micro-credential is a small, stand-alone credential that recognises the achievement of specific skills, experience or knowledge. Typically micro-credentials:
- Top up existing knowledge or skills so that people who are already qualified in an area can increase the range of their practice (e.g. work with electric vehicles), or
- Provide stand-alone new knowledge or skills so that people who are not already qualified in an area can do a specific aspect of it (e.g. kitchen installation)
Micro-credentials were initially developed in 2015 in response to demand from industry for learners to be formally recognised for short bursts of formal learning that did not fit the model for a full qualification (either at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority threshold of 40 credits for a qualification or a university-defined qualification such as a diploma or degree).
By 2018 the New Zealand Qualifications Authority had begun to approve and register micro-credentials, and NZQA’s website now lists around 170 of them.
University micro-credentials are not the same as NZQA-registered micro-credentials. When you pass this course, instead of getting credits against your NZQA record of achievement, you will be awarded a pass against this course and 5 credits on your university academic transcript. You will be awarded a digital badge and a digital certificate.
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