Open Pedagogy Toolkit: Module 5

Before introducing new tools in your classroom, ensure they meet accessibility standards and are openly available to all. Accessibility is important to consider because you will want to ensure that the software meets accessibility standards and works with assistive technologies such as screen readers, captioning, and keyboard navigation. You will want a tool with offline capabilities in case students have no or low internet access. You also want to ensure that the tools support multiple languages. A tool that only works for some people creates barriers.

Openness is important to ensure the ability to publish under a Creative Commons license. Students should be able to export their work to an open format, such as .txt, .csv, or .html. You want to choose a tool that is open in case you have to move to another tool.

Ease of use is important because you don’t want to spend time training the student on how to use a tool that they may not ever use again after the class is over. A low learning curve will help with unnecessary training. You also want the tool to have an intuitive interface, clear documentation and tutorials, and minimal setup time to save you and your students time.

Privacy and security are also important. You will want to ensure that the tools won’t violate FERPA, so avoid sharing any identifying information on the tools. 

Collaboration and community are important aspects to look for in a tool. You will want a tool that supports collaboration and sharing with those outside of the classroom. A tool that enables collaboration ensures others outside the classroom will benefit from the collaborative knowledge.

Cost and sustainability are important as well because if the tool costs money, it contradicts the idea of open education.

You will also want students to have access to their work after class. Perpetual access…

The right tool can enhance the assignment and motivate students to perform well. Use the checklist below to help evaluate your tool for accessibility and openness.