ERIC Number: EJ1434812
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2379-7762
EISSN: EISSN-2328-3343
Introducing Accessible Design to Students in Computer Science
Anastasia Angelopoulou; Rania Hodhod; Kristin Lilly; Ann Newland
Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, v36 n1 p9-21 2023
People with disabilities rely on a range of accessible technologies to interface with the digital world. However, their needs are often not considered when developing applications in introductory computer sciences courses. These courses traditionally focus on teaching technical skills that do not include those for designing and developing accessible and inclusive applications. Thus, there is a critical need to enhance students' understanding of designing, developing, and building applications with the needs of people with disabilities in mind early in the computer science program. In this work, we introduced students to designing, developing, and evaluating accessible applications over three academic semesters. We then assessed the impact of accessibility-related activities and the course delivery mode on students' knowledge about accessibility in computer science courses. Our study involved students enrolled in undergraduate computer science courses (N=76) and analyzed students' feedback to provide insights that can inform the decision of teaching accessible application design in higher education settings. The results indicate that students became more confident, interested, and familiar with accessible technology after attending a workshop that introduced them to accessibility measures and how they can be included in the software development process. Moreover, students reported that they would consider designing and developing accessible and inclusive applications in their future work.
Descriptors: Computer Science Education, Accessibility (for Disabled), Disabilities, Design, Knowledge Level, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Self Efficacy, Workshops, Computer Software, Familiarity, Program Effectiveness, Student Interests
Association on Higher Education and Disability. 8015 West Kenton Circle Suite 230, Huntersville, NC 28078. Tel: 704-947-7779; Fax: 704-948-7779; e-mail: JPED@ahead.org; Web site: https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A