Dr Ashani Ranathunga is a Lecturer in Civil Engineering and SALIP (School Academic Lead for Inclusive Pedagogies), School of Civil Engineering
The Challenge: Making Complex Visuals Accessible
In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, visuals like detailed drawings, equations, graphs, and long tables are essential for understanding complex concepts. However, these types of content can be challenging for students who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies.
Creating alternative text for such content is not easy. Too little detail can leave out essential information, while too much can be overwhelming and confusing.
As the School Academic Lead for Inclusive Pedagogies (SALIP) in the School of Civil Engineering, I wanted to find a practical and inclusive solution that would support all learners without burdening staff.
Building Collaboration: Starting with Conversation
The process began by listening. I asked colleagues,
“What’s realistic, and what helps students?”
Their feedback helped me understand both the practical constraints and opportunities for change. I also reached out to students, whose input grounded the solution in real experiences.
Together, we created a strategy that is both practical and impactful.
The Solution: Smarter, Simpler Accessibility
We landed on a two-part strategy that is both manageable and effective:
1. Link Lecture Recordings to Visuals
If a lecture covers a diagram, equation, or table, and that lecture is recorded, we simply direct students to the exact point in the recording where it’s explained.
2. Use Short Audio Descriptions for Standalone Content
When content is not covered in class, like pre-work for blended learning, we provide a short audio clip with a clear explanation.
These let students hear a clear and engaging explanation, improving their understanding and accessibility.
Clear Signposting: The Key to Effective Accessibility
For this strategy to work, clear signposting is essential, ensuring students know exactly where to find and easily access explanations for complex visuals.
We can do this by placing guidance in strategic locations, such as:
- Directly next to the illustration
- Within the alternative text (alt text) field
- Alongside the resources within Minerva
A simple note like:
“This diagram is explained in [Recording Name] at 10:30 mins. Please refer to the recording for a detailed explanation.”
…can make all the difference. You can include a link to the lecture recording or embed the video next to the visual in Minerva. If using Microsoft Stream, share a timestamped link for easy reference. This small step makes a big difference in student experience.
The Impact: Benefits for All
Students responded positively, even those without declared accessibility needs, valuing the added clarity and the option to engage with content in a variety of modes. Though this approach may not be captured from “Ally Scores”, it meets the real-world needs of our learners and supports genuine inclusion.
What’s Next: Scaling the Solution
This is just the start. We plan to develop school-wide guidelines, create templates with the digital education team, and continue gathering student feedback to improve and expand the approach.
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