Empowering Accessibility: How InteDashboard Transforms Learning for All

Shreya Verma

Jul 3, 2023 • 4min read

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

This quote by Nelson Mandela emphasises the transformative power of education. However, true transformation can only be achieved when education is accessible to all. Accessibility in education is essential to unlock the full potential of every individual, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. By removing barriers and providing equal opportunities, we can empower learners to change not only their own lives, but also the world around them.

In our previous blog on Accessibility in a Team-based Learning Class, we learned the significance of accessibility in a Team-based Learning (TBL) class and gained a comprehensive understanding of what it entails. Now, we will dive into several key features of InteDashboard that empower accessibility in TBL classes.

For the visually impaired

Visually impaired refers to individuals who have partial or complete loss of vision, which affects their ability to see and perceive visual information.

These features on InteDashboard enhance the accessibility and usability of the platform for these individuals:

Colour contrast of elements and text

InteDashboard adheres to strict guidelines regarding colour usage, ensuring that elements and text have sufficient contrast for easy perception.

Resizing of text

InteDashboard allows for effortless resizing of text throughout the platform. Users can conveniently adjust the size of the text to suit their comfort level and readability requirements. Whether someone prefers larger text for enhanced legibility or smaller text for a compact view, InteDashboard grants them the flexibility to tailor the text size to their preference.

Tooltip text for button labels

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InteDashboard includes tooltip text for button labels. These tooltips provide additional context and information when users hover over a button, aiding in comprehension and facilitating smoother navigation.

Alternate text for images

InteDashboard incorporates the use of alternate text for images. Alternate text, also known as alt text, is a textual description that is assigned to images within InteDashboard. By adding alt text to images, InteDashboard ensures that users utilising assistive technologies, such as screen readers, can access the information conveyed by the images. When encountering an image, the screen reader will read out the assigned alt text, enabling visually impaired users to comprehend the visual elements present in the platform.

Information not solely conveyed by colour

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InteDashboard recognizes that relying exclusively on colour can present difficulties for individuals with colour blindness. In order to tackle this issue, InteDashboard includes a textual representation of information alongside the use of colour to convey meaning. When colour differences are utilised in an image or button to convey information, users with colour deficiencies may not be able to perceive the colour. Therefore, by providing the information conveyed through colour using alternative visual means (such as additional text or icons), users who cannot see colour can still comprehend the information. For instance, our question statuses are not solely indicated by red or green colours; they also include accompanying text labels such as 'answered' or 'not answered'.

For the physically impaired

Physically impaired refers to individuals who have limitations or difficulties in performing physical activities or movements due to various factors such as congenital conditions, injuries, illnesses, or disabilities affecting their physical function or mobility.

These features on InteDashboard enhance the accessibility and usability of the platform for these individuals:

Ensuring meaningful sequence of focus for keyboard navigation
InteDashboard ensures a meaningful sequence of focus for keyboard navigation across its interface, facilitating seamless page navigation for keyboard users. By adhering to accessibility best practices, InteDashboard arranges keyboard navigation in a logical order that aligns with the natural flow of information. This allows keyboard users to traverse through different sections, menus, and interactive elements in a predictable and intuitive manner.

Prevention of keyboard traps
To allow keyboard users to move freely between different elements without getting stuck, InteDashboard implements robust design and development practices. The platform ensures that all interactive elements, including buttons, menus, and links, are properly coded to respond to keyboard inputs and allow users to navigate away from them easily.

In conclusion, InteDashboard recognizes the importance of accessibility in education and strives to empower learners of all abilities. By implementing a range of accessibility features, InteDashboard ensures that individuals with visual impairments or physical limitations can access and navigate the platform effectively. These features not only remove barriers and provide equal opportunities for learners but also foster inclusivity, independence, and equal access to education. By embracing accessibility in education, we can unlock the full potential of every individual, enabling them to change their own lives and make a positive impact on the world.

Education, coupled with accessibility, becomes a powerful tool that transcends limitations and empowers individuals to create meaningful change. Through the accessibility features of InteDashboard, we can take a step closer to Nelson Mandela's vision of using education as the most powerful weapon to change the world.

Testimonials

Dr. Julie M Estis Associate Professor University of South Alabama

"Outstanding tool for face-to-face, web-blended and fully online TBL courses! We've been using InteDashboard across several TBL classes at the University of South Alabama and are consistently impressed with the tool as well as the exceptional support from the team. We look forward to increasing utilization of InteDashboard through our campus-wide project."

Dr. Sandy Cook Emeritus Professor, TBL Consultant, TBLC-APC Committee Chairperson Formerly from Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School

"The administrative challenges behind TBL are often viewed as a major barrier to effective implementation. InteDashboard is the only technological solution that puts it all together, allowing the faculty to focus on creating the learning environment - not fumbling with papers, grading and pulling data from different sources."

Dr. John Chapman Assistant Professor Southern Virginia University

"I'm convinced, and I've done a fair amount of looking over the past few years to identify an online quizzing/survey tool that allows for individual question submission and real-time feedback (especially for the TRAT). InteDashboard really is the premier solution in this category. Bar none. Hands down."

Dr. Jennifer Styron Assistant Professor Eastern Virginia Medical School

"Ability to get real-time data on RAT test items during teaching and save this information (i.e. scores on assessments) has made the tool an essential element to my everyday online teaching."

Dr. Judy Currey Professor Deakin University

"I love having real time access to my students performance data and knowing exactly what concepts have or haven’t been understood while they complete their IRATs and TRATs! InteDashboard has significantly enhanced the ease and effectiveness with which I prepare for, and teach in, my TBL classes at Deakin."

Dr. Tom DeWitt Professor Michigan State University

"Overall, I’ve been really pleased with how InteDashboard has elevated the ability to engage students in Team-based learning."

Victor Holmes Assistant Professor University of North Texas Health Science Center

"The InteDashboard platform is unique in what it offers for educators and learners. The ability to interact, work with the quizzes easily, and general functionality of the program are key features not to miss. I have been able to create a more experiential learning environment allowing learners to immediately dive into experiences that simulate real clinical challenges."

Dr. Sarada Harichand Bulchand Lead Associate Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School

"InteDashboard is a fantastic and very useful platform to conduct classes in a team-based learning setting, probably because it has all the features that team-based learning requires. The features on InteDashboard are so nuanced that they help in enhancing the learning of students, which is the core objective that the educators try to achieve from TBL methodology."

Matthew Robson Senior Learning Designer Macquarie University

"The feature which we find most valuable is the automated grading and item analysis dashboards. They effectively provide staff and students within information that help inform what the clarification session should address. Also, the InteDashboard team provides great support. The team has been responsive to our feedback when we have asked for a possible enhancement to their tool in the past!"

Dr. Chitra Pai Professor Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine

"The support staff was prompt when we were in the initial phase of integrating it into Canvas. It provided the benefits of graded IRAT and TRAT and was really a seamless way to provide active learning in an online environment."

Tanya Bomsta Curriculum Project Manager The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

"Tech support is great, the software is easy to use and learn, online TBL is awesome (and helpful in this time of the pandemic), and the ability for easy peer review is stellar."

Dr. Grady Campbell Professor Nova Southeastern University

"Student evaluations were higher the semester we used InteDashboard than the previous semesters we held TBL in in-person setting."

Russell Marcus Department Chair & Associate Professor Hamilton College

"The great advantage of InteDashboard is that it is a single platform for RATs, peer evaluation, and 4S activities."

Hillel W. Cohen, Dr.P.H. Professor Associate Director of Curriculum, Clinical Research Training Program Albert Einstein College of Medicine

"InteDashboard allowed a seamless transition from paper-pencil response forms to electronic response."

Michael E. Woods, Ph.D. Associate Professor Pathology & Director of Research Laboratories Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

"InteDashboard gives me the ability to run online TBLs with ease. The interface is intuitive for faculty and students and matches what we would have done in the classroom."

Paul Mcdermott Senior Lecturer University of East Anglia School of Pharmacy

"I have recommended the product to many people already. It is a very versatile product with features that can be applied across a wide range of pedagogies. I have presented this tool to my school not just as a TBL tool but also a way to collect and analyse MCQ data and as a way to facilitate group learning and peer evaluation."

Steve Schneid Managing Director University of California

"I just want to say I love InteDashboard, and it is an integral part of my teaching!"

Dr. Simon Twedell Professor of Pharmacy Education University of Bradford

"It’s more sustainable now – there's less printing, less admin work, and saves a lot of time."

Dr. Gemma Quinn Associate Professor in Clinical Pharmacy University of Bradford

“InteDashboard has made a huge difference. We could have gone back to the way things were before we started using the software, but it would have been an absolute nightmare. The platform is great – it’s all in one place!”

Dr. Steve Cayzer Director of Studies in Mechanical Engineering University of Bath

"I think the real-time dashboard is just really, really, good. It just works. Recently, I used the histograms and answers feature that you can present to students during the RAT debrief – I found that a very useful way of presenting the results!”

Dr. Zachary Noel Assistant Professor University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

“Because InteDashboard is entirely built for TBL, you don't have to fiddle with a lot of settings and multiple softwares, so that certainly saves time. And now that we're in our third year of using InteDashboard, we're able to copy the activities from the prior years and use those, so that has certainly saved time as well!"

Dr. Suzan Kamel-ElSayed Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

"It was very, very easy for us. When comparing what we did before using InteDashboard, with what we have now with InteDashboard - it has been really easy for us. Everything is available on one platform!"