Learn about our DigitalX Intern model in Academic Technology, and our new Student Crowd Sourcing Captioning program, which exist to provide students with experience in accessibility, usability, and instructional design and to scale our services across campus. Learn about how these models are helping improve course quality and provide practical professional development.
1. Nate Evans, Senior Manager, DigitalX & Digital Accessibility
Coordinator
Student-centric approaches to
accessibility & course design
at Michigan State University
2. • Why hire student interns?
• Hear about their experiences.
• Learn about the models and workflows that have
been beneficial and successful for DigitalX at MSU.
• Learn about our new approaches and partnerships
this year.
Agenda
3.
4. • Student employees bring an “end-user” perspective that
the staff (and I) cannot bring to faculty conversations.
• Student employees bring individual advocacy that drives
their work.
• Students give feedback that is not limited by
administrative hurdles.
Student-centric
8. • Our teamis about 5 years old, positioned withinAcademic Technology.
• It started with 1,and grown to 9 FTEs
• Cross-functional:Made up of accessibility specialists, instructionaldesigners,
solutions engineers, and mediaproducers.
Team Stats
10. The Challenge: A huge amount of work needs to
be done to create more accessible and inclusive
learning experiences.
11. Our Strategy: Create student advocates across
the institution (and eventually in industry).
12. How we implement:
• We work with colleges and departments to
develop a service level agreement based on
their budget and specific needs.
• Departments provide funding, the “work list”
and prioritization.
• We provide HR/Training/Oversight to students
based on college need and student interests.
13. • Most FTE’s have 15-30% of their time allocated
to student coaching, development and
management.
• It is important for us to add value to the
student experience and to faculty work
through partnership.
Our Philosophy of Work
14. • Student-centered design and solutions help
improve the student experience.
• Progress, not perfection.
• Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.
Philosophy of work, continued
15. • 12 student employees
• Multiple majors
• Supporting over 35 colleges and departments
• Mostly junior-seniors
• Microsoft, Wells Fargo, United Shores, Ithaka
By the numbers
16. • SummerCrowd Sourcing Closed CaptioningProgram
• New Dedicated ID team – Dr. Jessica Knott
• Just adopted a Blackboard Ally…
• Accessible Learning Conference– BTAA Accessibility Showcase
New Approaches
Discover why and how student interns are uniquely positioned as advocates for digital access and inclusion at MSU.
Hear from student interns about their experiences partnering with faculty on digital accessibility and improving educational experiences.
Learn about the models and workflows that have been beneficial and successful for DigitalX team interns.
Learn about our new approaches and partnerships this year.
Alt text for image: A group of seven students students working together in our lab.
Students bring a unique and individual perspective that we need. The accessibility culture at MSU is shifting to the point where, if our students find accessibility problems with software, and have the means to create awareness and make accessibility improvements to it.
This opportunity to mentor, develop, and work alongside our students is one of the best stories that we can tell at our institutions.
This summer we have had over 100 students working in our office to support MSU.
important to note that we allocate 15-30% of each staff member’s time toward student hiring, management, development, mentorship, etc. The expectation is high to support students, and help them become more successful as a result of working on our office.
In the pivot of all pivots… This summer we have had over 100 students working in our office to support online teaching and learning. More information about the program on webaccess:
https://webaccess.msu.edu/Help_and_Resources/msu_crowd_captioning.html
- https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/news/ability-blog/accessibility-advances-amid-covid-19
Dedicated Instructional technology and development Team: Dr. Jessica Knott is a Rockstar colleague leading that team and presented earlier today.
Accessible learning conference: https://www.accessiblelearning.org/