Abstract:
Contribution: This article identifies the barriers students with disabilities have faced when accessing online undergraduate engineering education since the initial onset...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Contribution: This article identifies the barriers students with disabilities have faced when accessing online undergraduate engineering education since the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research addresses the need for greater research that explores the digital equity gap that widens as schools continue to use virtual and/or distance learning. Background: Poor accessibility standards, a lack of administrative support, and numerous other barriers have contributed to the ever-present digital equity gap for students with disabilities. Previous research has shown that the implementation of universal design for learning (UDL) principles can have a positive impact on in-classroom learning, particularly for historically marginalized students. Related research on UDL has been primarily focused on nonengineering, nondisabled, and in-person teaching contexts. Research Questions: What barriers do engineering students with disabilities face in an online learning environment? What affects disabled students’ perceived value of learning in their online classes? Methodology: A fixed-item survey was developed to capture the experiences of students with disabilities in engineering who participated in online learning at four-year colleges and universities across the United States. Findings: The results of this study have revealed a correlation between accessibility barriers in online undergraduate engineering learning environments and UDL principles.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 67, Issue: 3, June 2024)
Funding Agency:
Engineering Education Systems and Design Program, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, USA
Rachel A. Figard received the B.S. degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2021, and the M.S. degree in user experience from Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, USA, in 2023, where she is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in engineering education systems and design.
Her research focuses on the lived experiences of disabled students in engineering, design justice, and ed...Show More
Rachel A. Figard received the B.S. degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2021, and the M.S. degree in user experience from Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, USA, in 2023, where she is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in engineering education systems and design.
Her research focuses on the lived experiences of disabled students in engineering, design justice, and ed...View more
Department of Engineering Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Adam R. Carberry received the B.S. degree in material science engineering from Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA, in 2002, and the M.S. degree in chemistry and the Ph.D. degree in engineering education from Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA, in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
He is a Professor and the Chair with the Department of Engineering Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. His research focuses on de...Show More
Adam R. Carberry received the B.S. degree in material science engineering from Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA, in 2002, and the M.S. degree in chemistry and the Ph.D. degree in engineering education from Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA, in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
He is a Professor and the Chair with the Department of Engineering Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. His research focuses on de...View more
Engineering Education Systems and Design Program, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, USA
Rachel A. Figard received the B.S. degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2021, and the M.S. degree in user experience from Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, USA, in 2023, where she is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in engineering education systems and design.
Her research focuses on the lived experiences of disabled students in engineering, design justice, and educational policy design to support marginalized students.
Ms. Figard is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Rachel A. Figard received the B.S. degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2021, and the M.S. degree in user experience from Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, USA, in 2023, where she is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in engineering education systems and design.
Her research focuses on the lived experiences of disabled students in engineering, design justice, and educational policy design to support marginalized students.
Ms. Figard is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.View more
Department of Engineering Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Adam R. Carberry received the B.S. degree in material science engineering from Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA, in 2002, and the M.S. degree in chemistry and the Ph.D. degree in engineering education from Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA, in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
He is a Professor and the Chair with the Department of Engineering Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. His research focuses on developing new classroom innovations and assessment techniques for precollege and higher education students and identifying new ways to empirically understand engineering student and educator experiences.
Dr. Carberry became an ASEE Fellow in 2023.
Adam R. Carberry received the B.S. degree in material science engineering from Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA, in 2002, and the M.S. degree in chemistry and the Ph.D. degree in engineering education from Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA, in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
He is a Professor and the Chair with the Department of Engineering Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. His research focuses on developing new classroom innovations and assessment techniques for precollege and higher education students and identifying new ways to empirically understand engineering student and educator experiences.
Dr. Carberry became an ASEE Fellow in 2023.View more