Contents
This resource has been created to assist you with all areas of teaching practice. Following this introduction, there are 5 content modules offering historical and theoretical context, Accessible Education principles, concrete application of theory and principles to course design, delivery, and assessment, and an integrative conclusion.
| Module 1: Introduction | Welcome |
| Module 2: Disability History and Context | Context |
| Module 3: Principles for Accessible Education | Principles |
| Module 4: Course Design
Module 5: Student Engagement Module 6: Assessment & Evaluation |
Application |
| Module 7: Conclusion | Summary and Next Steps |
Approach
In this chapter, you have been introduced to the Who, Why, and What questions responded to by the FLEX Forward resource. Over the next several modules, we will continue to develop our W5H approach by further exploring Where, When, and How to implement Accessible Education principles into your teaching practice.
| WHO is being asked to review this resource? | We’re all invited and responsible for facilitating Accessible Education! |
| WHY am I being asked to review this resource? | FLEX: Focusing on Learning and Eliminating (historical and current) eXclusion |
| WHAT is this resource actually about? | Accessible Education: Anticipating and mediating social/environmental barriers to enhance access for all learners |
| WHERE do Accessible Education principles apply? | In all components of teaching |
| WHEN can I apply Accessible Education principles? | Throughout the life of the course: in advance, during, after |
| HOW do I FLEX Forward to advance Accessible Education? | “FourWords” (FAVE): Flexibility, Alignment, Variety, Explicitness |
Navigation
We have developed this resource so that it can be easily navigated by reading pages in a linear manner in one sitting, or by reviewing components non-sequentially over a period of time as they relate to the life cycle of your teaching context.
Along the way, best practices and recommendations, film clips of students and colleagues, case studies, and links to additional resources will offer additional opportunities for theoretical and practical reflection. The content will remain available so that you can revisit pages and resources at a later time as dilemmas and questions arise. Referring to the Table of Contents on the right hand side of the page is a good way to do this.
Completion
If you are a McMaster employee with a teaching-related role, you are required to review this resource as part of the institution’s compliance obligations under the provincial Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
To demonstrate your successful achievement of the FLEX Forward Learning Outcomes, you will need to register for the AODA: Accessible Education “course” through Mosaic, review this e-book, and then complete a quiz through Avenue to Learn. The successful completion of this quiz will be noted on your training log with Human Resources. Please refer to these instructions for registering in Mosaic and completing the Avenue quiz.
