Inclusive MOOC Supported by Assistive Technology

Abstract

The deaf and blind communities often struggle to communicate. In scenarios such as academia, these communication challenges prevent these communities from progressing within the wider intellectual communities, as most digital content and tools used for disseminating information remain inaccessible to them. Our work aims to revamp the learning experience of deaf and blind students by granting them access to education in their first language and through proper effective channels. Massive and Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide a new opportunity for education. MOOCs are easily accessible; however, their availability tends to be non-inclusive. The aim is for them to be viewed broadly, even though minority groups, with needs for specific channels and languages, such as deaf and blinds, are usually not considered. To maximize the potential of these courses, an inclusive MOOC was developed, a broad pedagogical model with technologies that enable deaf and blind people to access digital educational content.