Question: Consider the learning environment for your current design. What potential barriers can be reduced or eliminated to provide more pathways for learner success?

As a learning designer, my main goal is to develop learning resources that are inclusive to individuals of various abilities and strengths. In doing so, I’m ensuring that the resources I develop will provide all learners with an equitable opportunity to succeed and meet the desired learning goals of my course.

I would argue that this is truly easier said than done. However, if careful consideration and preparation are done ahead of time, in order to determine the various ways in which learners may require support, then it is much easier to structure our learning resources in diverse ways that support our students and lead to their learning success.

I am currently developing an Interactive Learning Resource which will be presented to students primarily as an online web-based course, which relies heavily on the ability of students to have access to a computer and internet. Taking this into account, I can not help but recognize that it would be beneficial to proactively consider how a learner may be negatively impacted if they do not have access to a computer with internet at home. A few simple solutions accounting for this learning barrier could include:

  1. Loaning computers to all learners without access to a computer at home
  2. Developing our website to be accessible on smartphones and tablets
  3. Providing learners with physical copies of the course material (such as DVDs, textbooks, academic articles, physical copies of course schedules, etc.)
  4. Providing students with safe locations to access the internet (possibly through libraries or classrooms on campus)
  5. Sending students home with tablets, laptops, mobile phones with access to cellular data

Issues such as not having access to a computer and internet at home could simply be short-term situational issues (such as students computer was lost or stolen, winter storm caused severe power outages preventing students from accessing the internet + charging their device), or long-term systemic issues (such as students facing economic issues which prevent them from being able to afford educational resources like a computer and internet). However, I think it is imperative to ensure that students are always provided with ample opportunity to practice self-advocacy no matter the circumstances leading to the learning barriers they may be facing.

While this is only one example of a learning barrier that students may encounter, I aim to proactively plan and develop learning resources that are accessible to students of all diverse learning needs. As we now know, there is no such thing as an “average learner”. That’s why it is essential for us, as learning designers, to work with our students to recognize how we can advocate and plan for their diverse learning needs and develop inclusive learning designs throughout their education.