In Finland, over a million people need accessible digital services due to factors like visual impairment, blindness, color blindness, or learning difficulties. According to online pedagogy, clear and accessible content supports learning for everyone. Accessible design supports various learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
Accessibility is more than just a technical requirement. It means barrier-free learning, a smooth user experience, and communication that considers everyone. In this article, Academy of Brain and Xoompoint share how accessibility is implemented in online learning in practice.
”Accessible learning materials benefit everyone, regardless of the user’s individual needs. Xoompoint’s goal is to develop accessible learning content for all, because when it comes to learning, using plain language in online studies is often the best way for anyone to learn. Technology allows the same content to be delivered with different accessibility settings, which lowers content production costs and enhances user experience on a wider scale”, says Riikka Hagman, founder and CEO of Xoompoint.
Accessibility refers to principles and techniques that must be followed in the design and development of digital services to ensure they are accessible for everyone. Additionally, Finnish law requires that digital services meet technical accessibility standards, include an accessibility statement, and allow users to provide feedback.
Academy of Brain has taken many steps to address accessibility in its online learning and continues to develop in this area. Academy of Brain complies with the AA level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
“Accessibility is essential for both business and learning. We want as many people as possible to benefit from our online learning programs because diverse individuals work in different kinds of organizations. For example, people perceive colors differently, so we improved the color contrast in our video trainings to make them brighter. We also increased font sizes and added subtitles to all trainings. The content can be also listened”, says Toni Toivanen, CEO and founder of Academy of Brain.
Accessibility includes the technical implementation of a digital service, ease of use, and the clarity and comprehensibility of content. Comprehensibility refers to the use of clear language, easy-to-read text, and the use of multiple media formats like video, images, audio, and text.
“Everyone should have the same opportunity to benefit from our coaching. Our microlearning content is designed to be short and concise, each micro-lesson takes about five minutes. The content is structured into clear, digestible units to make understanding easier. After that, our online learning content guides to independent and shared reflection, which supports learning”, explains Ville Ojanen, chief psychologist and co-founder of Academy of Brain.
7 Tips for Designing Accessible Online Learning
1. Create a Clear and Simple Structure
• Use a logical and predictable course structure.• Ensure easy navigation and the ability to revisit previous content.
• Avoid overwhelming the learner with too much information on one screen.
2. Use Multi-Channel Approach
• Use text, images, audio, and videos to allow learners to choose their preferred way of absorbing information.
• Offer alternative ways to complete assignments, such as written answers, audio recordings, or visual presentations.
3. Plain Language and Visual Clarity
• Use short sentences and avoid complex terminology.
• Choose simple, easy-to-read fonts and ensure sufficient color contrast.
• Use images and infographics to support textual content.
4. Allow Learners to Practice, Repeat, and Progress at Their Own Pace
• Let learners repeat content multiple times.
• Allow self-paced progress without time pressure.
• Use step-by-step tasks with gradually increasing difficulty.
5. Interactive and Practical Content
• Incorporate games, exercises, and simulations to support learning.
• Use practical examples and scenarios that learners can apply to their own work.
6. Motivation and Positive Feedback
• Provide clear instructions and encouraging messages.
• Offer instant feedback on exercises to help learners correct and learn from mistakes.
• Enable tracking of learning progress and recognition of achievements.
7. Accessibility and Technical Usability
• Ensure the course works on different devices and browsers.
• Include subtitles for videos and the option to listen to the text.
• Ensure compatibility with screen readers and other accessibility tools.
When accessibility is considered from the design stage, it benefits all users. It’s equality in learning in action.
More information:
Toni Toivanen, CEO, Co-Founder, [email protected], +358 40 531 4647
Riikka Hagman, Online Pedagogue, CEO, Founder, [email protected], +358 40 503 6684
About Academy of Brain:
Academy of Brain’s mission is to support a more humane working life. Academy of Brain offers science-based soft skills e-learning content for companies that want to ensure a sustainable future as artificial intelligence transforms the world. Academy of Brain was founded by psychologist Dr. Ville Ojanen and Toni Toivanen. The company is based in Helsinki, Finland. www.academyofbrain.com
About Xoompoint Oy:
Xoompoint is a digital learning expert company. It offers solutions for all digital learning needs, from content production and learning technologies to online pedagogy. The Xoompoint team supports and guides organizations through all phases of digital training. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Turku. www.xoompoint.com
