ADCET

In 2017 Vision Australia conducted survey-based research into the online learning experiences of university students who are blind or have low vision. 34 of the 35 respondents reported that experienced significant barriers when trying to use online learning environments, and in some cases these barriers prevented the students from completing their university studies.

This podcast episode is the audio taken from our webinar, 2018 Vision Australia Report: Online, but off-track. Bruce Maguire outlines and discusses the findings of Vision Australia’s research into the significant barriers to online learning experienced by university students who are blind or have low vision. 

Bruce is blind and has a Master’s degree in Policy and Applied Social Research. Before joining Vision Australia in 2008, Bruce worked in the Disability Rights Unit at the Australian Human Rights Commission. He has also been Chair of the Australian Braille Authority and President of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities. He also led Vision Australia’s research project into barriers to online learning experienced by university students who are blind or have low vision.

Related resources

2018 Vision Australia Report: Barriers to Online Learning Experienced by University Students who are Blind or Have Low Vision. https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/news/2019-08-23/online-track

ADCET Webinar: 2018 Vision Australia Report: Online, but off-track -https://www.adcet.edu.au/resource/10319/adcet-webinar-2018-vision-australia-report-online-but-off-track/ 

Head to our website to view the episode transcript: https://www.adcet.edu.au/resource/10339/podcast-2018-vision-australia-report-online-but-off-track/

In this Podcast Matt Brett is joined by Dr. Graeme Atherton to discuss some of the significant research that Graeme has undertaken, the impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education in the UK and internationally and why student equity matters to him personally.  Matt also grabs the opportunity to talk about Liverpool’s lead in the Premier League title which Graeme handled in good humour being a Manchester United supporter. Dr. Graeme Atherton is an internationally renowned leader & researcher in the field of access and diversity in higher education. He founded and leads both AccessHE and the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) in the UK. And established World Access to Higher Education Day.

Related resources

Career Development among Young People in Britain Today: Poverty of Aspiration or Poverty of Opportunity?: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264840241_Career_Development_among_Young_People_in_Britain_Today_Poverty_of_Aspiration_or_Poverty_of_Opportunity

World Access to Higher Education Day is a platform to raise global awareness around inequalities in access and success in higher education (HE), and act as a catalyst for international, regional and local action: https://worldaccesshe.com/

NEON: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/about/

Admissions and equity challenges for HE post COVID-19: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200403132321996

London Higher: https://www.londonhigher.ac.uk 

Report: Preparing for hyper-diversity: London’s Student Population in 2030: https://www.accesshe.ac.uk/preparing-for-hyper-diversity-londons-student-population-in-2030/

Liverpool link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52699654

Head to our website to view the episode transcript - www.adcet.edu.au

AHEAD in Ireland is well known for their promotion of Universal Design for Learning.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of ad-hoc adjustments and fixes needed for students with disability has been alarming – noted in the United States, Ireland and Australia in discussion forums and other online methods. Join David Swayn from the NDCO Program and Darlene McLennan from the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training as they host a discussion with Dara Ryder, the CEO of AHEAD in Ireland to talk about key issues surrounding COVID-19 for students with disability.

This podcast will give you some information about what overseas equity practitioners are going through in further & higher education, what some of the work-arounds have been, and a bit of perspective on how Ireland works to support their further & higher education sectors in relation to students with disability.

You can find related links and the episode transcript here: https://www.adcet.edu.au/resource/10315/podcast-adcet-crosses-the-ocean-access-inclusion-in-tertiary-education-post-covid-19-part-2/

How lucky are we? In this second Podcast, produced in partnership with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE), we hear from Professor Sally Kift. Sally is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law (FAAL), and President of the Australian Learning & Teaching Fellows (ALTF). She has held several university leaderships positions, including as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at James Cook University. Sally is a national Teaching Award winner, a national Program Award winner, a Senior Teaching Fellow and a Discipline Scholar, Law. In 2017, she received an Australian University Career Achievement Award for her contribution to Australian higher education.

In this Podcast, Sally discusses Transition Pedagogy, student and staff wellbeing, the impact of COVID-19 on the sector, the recent review of the Australian Qualifications Framework and much more. It’s incredible what she was able to cover in an hour.  Matt Brett had so much fun last time he kindly agreed to once again sit in the interviewing chair. Matt is the Director of Academic Governance and Standards at Deakin University, an Adjunct Fellow with the NCSEHE, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne and sits on the Advisory Group for ADCET. 

You can find related links and a copy of the episode transcript here - https://www.adcet.edu.au/resource/10316/podcast-transition-pedagogy-and-the-best-chance-for-all-professor-sally-kift/

This series of conversations aims to share ideas and approaches with Higher Education institutions regarding the rapid move to online learning, and its impacts and opportunities for students with disability.  From remote invigilation of exams, to physical accessibility needs at home, to increased demand for provisions of accessible materials and well-designed online platforms: it’s all happening – and fast.  

Join Darlene McLennan from ADCET and David Swayn from the NDCO Program as they host a discussion with Jamie Axelrod, Director – Disability Resources at Northern Arizona University.  In this podcast Jamie shares some of the issues and approaches facing Tertiary Education facilities in the United States in this context along with some of the responses, approaches and coordination happening to support students with disability during these difficult times.

Follow this link to find the YouTube video that Jamie Axelrod talks about in the podcast from a webinar by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on online education and website accessibility - https://youtu.be/DCMLk4cES6A 

This Podcast is the audio from a webinar ADCET hosted in partnership with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) on the 1st of April. We felt it was important that people get to have a choice at this time on how they can engage with our content. Listeners need to be aware our speakers may at times refer to a slide in their presentation. You can find the slides here - https://www.adcet.edu.au/resource/10282/three-essentials-in-the-move-on-line/

The presentation highlighted “three essentials” for delivering a practical and engaging on-line learning experience for your students. 

Our presenters Dr Cathy Stone and Dr Nicole Crawford, have a wealth of knowledge in teaching and learning and have willingly shared this with us. Enjoy

ADCET is excited to bring you our first podcast, which was produced in partnership with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE). 

Our first guest is Mary Kelly, who is the former Director of Equity at the Queensland University of Technology. Mary has just retired, and we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to capture some of the experiences and knowledge she has acquired over the last 20 years. Mary has been a leading voice in Australia on staff and student equity in Higher Education for more than 20 years. 

In this podcast, Mary discusses the successes and challenges she and the sector have experienced during this time. For this inaugural podcast, we asked Matt Brett to sit in the interviewing chair. Matt is the Director of Academic Governance and Standards at Deakin University, an Adjunct Fellow with the NCSEHE, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne and sits on the Advisory Group for ADCET. Matt is an avid Podcast listener and took to the role like a duck to water.