How can you design EdTech tools that are accessible to users with limited digital literacy?

2 Simplify your interface

The second step to designing accessible EdTech tools is to simplify the interface and make it easy to use, understand, and navigate. Utilizing principles of UX design can help you create a clear, consistent, and intuitive interface that reduces cognitive strain for your users. To do this, use simple and recognizable words, icons, and symbols. Additionally, apply contrast and color to highlight important elements and actions while avoiding clutter. Additionally, provide clear labels, instructions, and feedback that guide your users and explain what they need to do. Furthermore, break down complex information and tasks into manageable steps with progressive disclosure and chunking. Lastly, use multiple modalities and formats to present content and support different learning styles such as text, audio, video, images, or animations.

3 Test and iterate

The third step to design accessible EdTech tools is to test and iterate your design with your users and collect feedback and data. You can use various methods to test your design, such as usability testing, A/B testing, analytics, and user feedback. The goal is to evaluate how well your design meets your users' needs, goals, preferences, and expectations, and how it affects their learning outcomes and experiences. You should also identify any issues, problems, or gaps that your design may have, and use the feedback and data to improve and refine your design.

4 Follow accessibility guidelines

The fourth step to design accessible EdTech tools is to adhere to accessibility guidelines and standards that ensure compliance with best practices and legal requirements. Accessibility is an essential part of inclusion and equity in EdTech, so it is important to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, and the Quality Matters (QM) rubric. These provide criteria, techniques, principles, guidelines, standards, and indicators for creating web content and learning materials that are accessible and flexible for diverse learners.

5 Learn from others

The fifth step to design accessible EdTech tools is to learn from those with experience and expertise in designing accessible and inclusive EdTech. You can access various sources and resources, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, blogs, online communities, forums, networks, tools, platforms, and libraries that provide best practices, examples, templates, and frameworks related to EdTech accessibility and inclusion. These can connect you with other EdTech designers, developers, educators, and learners who share their insights, challenges, and solutions.

6 Keep learning and improving

The sixth and final step to design accessible EdTech tools is to keep learning and improving your design and your skills. EdTech is a changing field that requires adaptation and innovation to meet user needs and the learning environment. It’s important to be aware of the ethical and social implications of your design and how it affects users and society. To stay up-to-date, you should keep up with the latest trends, research, and developments in EdTech, accessibility, and inclusion. Additionally, you should seek feedback from users, peers, mentors, and experts on how to improve your design and skills. Finally, experimenting with new ideas, tools, and techniques can help you enhance your design and skills.