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December 9, 2024
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7taps Content Team
Accessibility is the principle that digital products and environments should be designed to be usable by people of all abilities. This includes people who are living with disabilities—who make up 15% of the population and represent about $13 trillion in purchasing power. And it also includes those with temporary changes to ability (e.g., a broken arm) or situational limitations (e.g., using a device in a noisy environment).Microlearning accessibility is the practice of designing and developing microlearning content to be usable by people with a range of abilities and backgrounds. It involves creating learning experiences that are inclusive, adaptable, and engaging for all learners, regardless of their physical, sensory, cognitive, or situational circumstances.This means that microlearning content should be compatible with mobile devices, adjustable to individual needs, and presented in formats that are easy to understand.
It’s not just about regulatory compliance or avoiding lawsuits, accessibility is foundational to creating successful microlearning content. It's about meeting your learners where they are and to provide “just in time” information in a way that increases knowledge retention.
This means considering not just the situational context (Are they on the go, without access to a laptop, and with only minutes in between patients?), but also their personal context (What’s their educational level and how comfortable are they with English?).
Here are more reasons why accessibility is particularly important (as if you needed more reasons):
Inclusion: It's morally right to ensure everyone has equal access to information and opportunities.
Human rights: Accessibility is a fundamental human right, enabling people with different abilities to participate fully in society.
Accessible products and services reach a broader customer base, increasing potential revenue.
Demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility.
Accessibility features can improve the experience for all learners, such as captions, clear navigation, and adjustable text size.
By catering to varied learning preferences, you can enhance the learning experience. (We’ll look at specific ways to do this below.)
Depending on the context of where your microlearning content will be used, there are different standards and guidelines that you may need to comply with. Key ones include:
EN 301 549: This is the European Standard on “Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe”. It was developed in response to a request from the European Commission.
Guidelines for educational environments often build upon these standards, focusing on factors like alternative (or “alt”) text for images, color contrast, and keyboard accessibility.
To do this effectively, you’ll want to consider:
Their situational context
Their personal context
How 7taps can be used to create content across learning styles
Let's break this down into some common scenarios with ideas for how to apply accessibility principles in microlearning using 7taps.
Microlearning for a healthcare professional
Solution: Create concise microlearning modules with clear learning objectives. Use visuals to convey information quickly. Offer transcripts for audio content. Place QR code links to microlearning modules in the relevant areas where they’ll need that info.
Microlearning for a learner with visual impairments
Solution: Provide detailed alt text for images, use enough color contrast, add audio cards, and ensure content is navigable with a keyboard. Share microlearning modules with an SMS link for easy accessibility from their mobile devices.
Microlearning for a learner with a hearing impairment
Solution: Offer closed captions for videos, provide transcripts for audio content, and consider using visual cues to reinforce key points.
Microlearning for a learner with limited English proficiency
Solution: Use simple language, avoid jargon, and consider providing content in multiple languages or with translation options. Use images and/or videos to assist in the visual transmission of key concepts.
Related content: Read our guide to creating Learner Personas (coming soon)
To assess how accessible your microlearning content is, try the following:
By combining these strategies and using a tool like 7taps, you can make sure to meet your microlearning accessibility goals and requirements.
Interested in mastering techniques to optimize microlearning strategies? Visit our resources and discover valuable insights to enhance your learning journey.
Additional resources:
