Creating a supportive learning environment is key for student success. However, barriers such as accessibility challenges, lack of representation, poor course design, and technical access issues can prevent students from fully engaging with course materials and achieving their potential. By addressing these barriers proactively, educators can ensure that every student has an equitable opportunity to thrive. Furthermore, AI-powered tools provide innovative ways for faculty to expedite the process of reducing barriers in online courses.
This article outlines practical strategies to improve learning barriers for students while highlighting how AI can assist faculty in implementing these changes efficiently.
Incompatible Formats
Ensure all course materials are compatible with assistive technologies by following accessibility standards like WCAG 2.1. Use formats such as tagged PDFs, accessible Word documents, and properly coded HTML. Provide materials in multiple formats (e.g., text, audio, video) and test them with screen readers and text-to-speech tools.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Document Conversion Tools: AI tools like Microsoft Word’s Accessibility Checker or SensusAccess can convert materials into accessible formats, such as audio, tagged PDFs, or Braille-ready files.
- Screen Reader Simulations: AI tools can simulate how assistive technologies interact with materials, identifying incompatibilities.
Poor Digital Design
Use accessible design principles: clear headings, simple layouts, sufficient color contrast, and no reliance on pop-ups or JavaScript-heavy elements. Provide alternatives like transcripts, captions, and alt text for all media.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Accessibility Checkers: Tools within the LMS like Blackboard Ally and Canvas Link Validator can assess and suggest fixes for accessibility issues in digital materials.
- Alt Text Generators: Use Alt text guru which is now integrated with ChatGPT.
Cognitive Load
Use plain language, short paragraphs, and bullet points to reduce cognitive load. Provide summaries or “key takeaways” for dense content.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Content Simplifiers: Tools like Grammarly or Quillbot can rewrite dense content into simpler language.
- AI Summarization Tools: AI like NotebookLM, ChatGPT or Gemini can condense long readings into summaries or key points.
Lack of Diverse Content
Include diverse perspectives, examples, and case studies from a variety of cultural, social, and historical contexts. Provide content in multiple formats (text, audio, video) to accommodate diverse learner preferences.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Content Recommendations: GenAI systems can suggest diverse authors, case studies, and cultural perspectives relevant to course topics.
- Voice Conversions: AI can create audio or video adaptations of text-based content.
Biased Materials
Review and revise course materials to eliminate biases and stereotypes. Incorporate multiple viewpoints to ensure balanced representation. Check out our page on AI Prompt Templates and Examples for Inclusive Content if you want to learn how to do more with inclusive content.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Bias Detection Tools: AI like OpenAI’s GPT-4 can help detect biased language or stereotypes in course content.
Exclusion of Marginalized Voices
Intentionally include voices from marginalized groups in course readings, videos, and discussions. Use case studies that highlight diverse experiences.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Diversity Audit Tools: AI can analyze syllabi or course content to evaluate the diversity of sources and suggest additional ones.
- Generative AI for Scenarios: Use AI to create inclusive case studies or discussion prompts featuring diverse perspectives.
Poor Navigation
Design course platforms with intuitive navigation, clear menus, and search functionality. Include a tutorial or “how to navigate” video at the start of the course
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Usability Testing: AI tools can analyze platform navigation and suggest improvements.
Unclear Instructions
Provide detailed instructions with examples, timelines, and rubrics for all assessments. Use consistent formatting for instructions across the course.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Template Creation: AI tools like Canva or ChatGPT can create clear, consistent templates for instructions.
- Clarity Checkers: AI language tools like Grammarly can help refine instructions for clarity.
Biased Assessment Methods
Use multiple assessment methods (e.g., written assignments, presentations, portfolios) to accommodate diverse learners. Regularly review assessments for cultural, racial, or gender biases.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Bias Analysis Tools: GenAI platforms can analyze assessment prompts and questions for potential biases.
- Rubric Builders: AI can assist in creating clear, equitable rubrics aligned with diverse learning objectives. Learn more about the benefit of using rubrics and how AI can help draft rubrics.
Digital Divide
Provide downloadable course materials that can be accessed offline. Highlight guidance on affordable internet access options when possible. Most local libraries offer Wi-Fi internet access for residents and it is typically free.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Offline-Ready Materials: AI tools can convert content into formats like PDFs or ePub for offline use.
- Connectivity Support: AI-powered mobile apps like Khan Academy’s Lite version are optimized for low-bandwidth environments.
Lack of Adaptive Technology
Ensure all course materials and platforms are compatible with assistive technologies.
How AI Can Help Faculty:
- Compatibility Checkers: AI tools like Blackboard Ally can ensure materials work with adaptive technologies.
- Tool Recommendations: AI can recommend assistive technologies tailored to specific needs, such as speech-to-text or magnifiers.
Overcoming barriers to learning is a shared responsibility between educators and institutions. From ensuring materials are compatible with assistive technologies to incorporating diverse perspectives and improving navigation, each improvement contributes to a more equitable learning experience. AI tools empower educators to tackle these challenges effectively and efficiently. Together, these strategies and tools pave the way for a more equitable and engaging educational environment.
