January 30, 2012 Multimedia Lectures: Tools for Improving
Accessibility and Learning College course work is meant to be
challenging. The content and the vocabulary used are often
unfamiliar to many students. For at-risk learners, the
challenges are even greater. In some cases, these students have
physical or learning disabilities that create accessibility
issues, other times the challenges may be the result of the fact
that they’re an international student, have anxiety issues, or a
strong learning style preference that runs counter to the
instructor’s style. For all of these reasons and more, today’s
student body is a highly diverse group with many different
learning challenges, often manifesting in problems with
notetaking and listening comprehension. All of this creates what
Keith Bain calls an “accessibility imperative.” And although
there are many legal obligations that institutions must satisfy
with regards to accessibility, Bain says recording and
transcribing lectures can improve retention and success