I love writing posts on LinkedIn about ideas that pop into my head, but this one got a bit long and needed some formatting so I wrote a page. Lucky you, more drivel, but this time long drivel.
I've long had this idea about a learning utopia for people who can't afford accessibility courses or certification. I know there's people out there doing it, so this is an addition to that thinking — I know it's not ground breaking.
Self-paced, Accessibility Capability Evaluation Model: or SPACE model.
(yeah I know, the name could be better but I literally just made it up)
It's a product where someone could take a wonderful questionnaire type experience like Ashley Peacock recently created, and make an open-source certification, membership and open learning pathway with mentorship at every stage.
It would be something created, maintained and moderated by all, like people already with the certification mentor you and then you take the tests in your own time and at your own pace. Your score and thus certification comes from how well you do, bit like at university, with first class honours, 2nd class etc (maybe).
Here's the details spilling out of my tiny brain:
It's open source
Accessibility learning should be a right, not a privilege. Free, open-source learning resources would ensure less barriers to entry, things like resources, study guides hosted and community contributed to by members from a group such as CAN members.
(ps — I've not spoken to anyone at CAN about this, I'm just freestyling on my keyboard whilst watching I'm a Celebrity).
It's self-paced learning
This part acknowledges the diversity in learning styles, cognitive needs and life circumstances. I haven't done a moderated test since my A-levels (that's about 17 years old in the UK, and now I'm a grey old 40 something). You'd have modular learning pathways with bite-sized snippets of topics. Including videos, audio transcripts, and the aforementioned interactive quizzes, which meet varied user needs. Not everyone is the same, and learning is scary.
It's a mentorship model
Mentoring from a group of cool people creates a sense of community and support. It's also a very powerful way to pass on expertise. Using something like ADPList would work well for this (it's free and I think accessible).
It's inclusive evaluation
Let's say we just all hate tests. Having a set date, that date approaching, cramming and stress ensues. Unnecessary cognitive load, dyslexia, anxiety are just some reasons why it's exclusionary to have a set date (remember your driving test anyone?). I'd suggest things like Ashley's questionnaire, or portfolio building case studies that you can build and chat through with a mentor and could be peer reviewed to give you practical insight, and then something to show off. The ultimate questionnaire gives you your score and thus certification.
How would you ensure integrity?
We'd reinforce the ethos that this is about self-improvement rather than just credentials. If someone deceived the certification (eg DuckDuckGo'ed the answers) then they'd only be deceiving themselves.
Karl, this is well flawed
Probably but you know what, we shouldn't stifle optimism with barriers said a great man.
Problems I could potentially foresee:
- Quality control (community contribution models here, peer reviews etc)
- Sustaining interest (ideas like these are side of desk without somebody pumping it with sponsorship. And people are busy)
- [Something else here, when I think of it]
But open source FTW.
Accessibility learning should be a right, not a privilege.
This was first published as an article on LinkedIn.
Return to the blog