It would be difficult to find a formal or informal online learning instructor who does not want to effectively teach all of their students. Even with these good intentions, the design of many online learning opportunities erect barriers to students with some types of disabilities. The good news is that there are established principles and evidence-based practices that, when applied proactively, lead to offerings that are accessible to, usable by, and inclusive of students with a wide variety of characteristics that include disabilities.

Many informal learning instructors who consider it important to address accessibility issues in their materials and instructional methods, lack the knowledge and skills to design a fully accessible and inclusive course. Some report little understanding of their obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its 2008 Amendments when it comes to making online learning opportunities accessible to students with disabilities. 

This interactive workshop will reveal how universal design (UD) practices can be integrated with best practices in the field of both synchronous and asynchronous online learning design to create an inclusive course. It will share evidence-based practices for operationalizing UD principles into practices that are often easy to implement. Participants will learn about how they can apply UD practices in the design of informal learning offerings in environmental education. Discussions will be facilitated to explore key issues related to promoting practices that make informal online learning offerings accessible to and inclusive of students with disabilities. Resources will be shared. 

Logistics:
This workshop will be held on Zoom and is eligible for 2 hours of Criteria III/Continuing Ed for the NC EE Certification.

21st Century EE Skills is a series of short workshops (2hours each) to help educators build the "other duties as assigned" that have now become integral to their jobs either as professional educators or program managers. These workshops go beyond an informational webinar, offering interactive, in-depth explorations of a single topic. This workshop series will be held by the Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) in partnership with the North Carolina Association for Environmental Education Centers (NCAEEC).