Auditing the Accessibility of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Area of Science:

• Accessibility research
• Educational technology
• Human-computer interaction

Background:

• Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are increasingly popular educational platforms.
• Ensuring accessibility in MOOCs is crucial for equitable access to education.
• Existing accessibility evaluations may not fully address the unique needs of diverse MOOC users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and present a comprehensive accessibility audit for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
• To identify specific areas of inaccessibility within MOOC platforms and individual courses.
• To propose actionable solutions and adaptations to enhance MOOC accessibility and meet diverse user needs.

Main Methods:

• The study employed a mixed-methods approach combining expert-based heuristic evaluations.
• User-based evaluations were conducted with diverse participants to gather real-world feedback.
• The audit focused on both the overall MOOC platform and the content of individual courses.

Main Results:

• The developed accessibility audit effectively identifies key barriers to MOOC accessibility.
• Both heuristic and user-based evaluations yielded valuable insights into platform and course-specific issues.
• The audit provides a framework for understanding and addressing the needs of users with disabilities in online learning environments.

Conclusions:

• The designed accessibility audit is a valuable tool for improving MOOC accessibility.
• Implementing the audit's findings can lead to more inclusive and equitable online learning experiences.
• Further research should focus on the longitudinal impact of implementing these accessibility adaptations in MOOCs.