Universal Design Solutions - sponsored by Universal Designers and Consultants, Inc.
Universal Design Education Online
from Universal Design Newsletter, Originally published - October 2002
By Molly Story, Beth Tauke, and Elaine Ostroff
The goal was to make the concepts of universal design an integral component of design education. The result was the Universal Design Education Materials Online project, to create a resource for students and teachers of universal design. With origins in the Universal Design Education Project developed by Elaine Ostroff in 1989, the Universal Design Education Online web site, at www.udeducation.org, is designed to meet the growing demand for more readily available universal design educational materials. Its objective is to develop and disseminate universal design education materials online for use by design educators, practitioners and students.
The project is being conducted cooperatively by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the University at Buffalo, and the Global Universal Design Educator's Network.
Listening to the Users
When developing the structure and content of the site, the project team relied heavily on the comments of its advisors and other potential users, including those who have extensive experience in universal design and those who are in the beginning stages of exploration. The team also enlisted the involvement of a small group of individuals with disabilities who periodically evaluate the site's accessibility and usability.
Through educator roundtables, conference calls, and feedback by phone, e-mail, and online forums, the project team concluded that design educators want access to more advanced teaching resources and opportunities for interaction with other UD educators. Reviewers emphasized the need for the site to meet a high standard of accessibility and at the same time, include graphics that are sophisticated, effective and compelling.
The site is organized into two primary sections, "teach" and "learn." Within the "teach" area there are program overviews, course outlines, course modules, student-initiated projects, special events, teaching techniques, and a discussion forum. The "learn" area offers a range of opportunities to study universal design. Resource materials listed on the site relate to both teaching and learning, with readings, articles, examples of universal design, and links to related sites. To make it helpful and more access ible, the site offers customization features that allow users to change the look of the site for easier viewing. Visitors can also offer feedback.
The design team built interactive features into the site whenever possible. At the heart of this interaction is the discussion forum where universal design educators and practitioners can respond to the teaching materials and share their ideas, methods, and strategies. Other interactive aspects of the site include animated exemplars of universally designed products and a "best hits" organized search interface.
Promoting Interaction and Utilization
The next step in this project is to promote utilization of the site, and to ensure that the site provides a valuable service to its users. Web promotion of the site includes registration with search engines and directories and press releases for site announcements and other news pertaining to the site. Equally important is the "live" promotion of the site with people who teach universal design. This includes organizing educator roundtables and workshops at national and international conferences, giving paper presentations with attendant proceedings at a range of conferences in design and design-related disciplines, and seeking new partners such as design education organizations and services.
Conclusion
This web site has the potential to influence universal design educational practices in at least three ways: 1) providing new tools for teaching and learning; 2) providing a new communication channel and centralized site; and 3) helping to prepare teachers, practitioners and students for success in a society that will require more universally designed environments and elements. The site allows individuals who are interested in the discipline of universal design to tap the many resources available without regard to geographical boundaries, time constraints, or resource allocations.
The project team hopes that providing this extensive and rich collection of educational materials online will facilitate the instruction and study of universal design. It hopes to encourage the inclusion of universal design subject matter in a wide variety of existing courses and the creation of new courses on the topic. For more information, visit Universal Design Education Online at www.udeducation.org.