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Designing and Producing (Chemistry) Multimedia Resources for Students with Disadvantages and Learning Difficulties. Dr Tony Rest Chemistry Video Consortium Southampton University a.j.rest@soton.ac.uk. Components of courses in natural, physical, engineering and life sciences.
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Designing and Producing (Chemistry) Multimedia Resources for Students with Disadvantages and Learning Difficulties Dr Tony Rest Chemistry Video Consortium Southampton University a.j.rest@soton.ac.uk
Components of courses in natural, physical, engineering and life sciences • Lectures, Seminars, Tutorials • Coursework • Practicals - MANDATORY
Problems for students with disabilities and disadvantages • Access to rooms • Access to laboratories • Safety in the laboratory • Carrying out experimental work
Some IT solutions • Distance learning • Design of multimedia courseware including video, animations and simulations, e.g. “Fundamental Laboratory Chemistry” DEMO and “Physical Chemistry Experiments” – hearing, visually and physically impaired students • Inclusion of multiple language options – bringing resources from overseas
What about “Signing”? • “Signing” seems to be effective when the technical level is relatively low, e.g. “Scientists in Sign” DEMO • Problems arise because of several different “Signing” languages in the UK alone • Problems arise with highly technical “Signing” and the size of the “Signing” image • CONCLUSION: Needs of hearing-impaired students are probably best served by well-designed sub-titles
Overall Conclusions • IT technology now exists which can open up scientific/technical subjects with mandatory practical/skills requirements to students with disabilities and disadvantages • Consideration should be given to the needs of disabled and disadvantaged students at the planning stage of designing new multimedia resources leads to improved products
Challenges to designers • To create multimedia resources which include options for disabled and disadvantaged students at the outset rather than having to adapt packages later • To press for and to adopt a new Industry Standard for INCLUSIVE multimedia courseware
Acknowledgements • Don Brattan, Oliver Jevons, Ailsa Leck (Chemistry Video Consortium CDROMS) and Marion Harvey (“Signing”) • Daniel Cabrol-Bass and Jean-Pierre Rabine (Nice; Multiple Language Options) • HEFCE FDTL Program via “Project Improve” (Hull) • ICI Plc