1. Accessibility and OERs
This survey is being conducted by Anna Gruszczynska on behalf of SCORE (Support Centre for Open Resources in Education at Open
University) as part of a project exploring issues of accessibility in the context of Open Educational Resources (OERs), where OERs are teaching
and learning materials available freely online at point of access for everyone to use, re­use, share and repurpose. The survey seeks
perspectives of educators who are involved with using, creating and sharing educational content online, regardless of their familiarity with
OER initiatives.
In the context of this research project, accessibility refers to the ability of web­based resources to be viewed, navigated and read by everyone,
including learners with additional needs, which may be due to auditory, visual, mobility, and/or cognitive impairments.
The survey should take a maximum of 20 minutes to complete and any comments on the survey can be made at the end or by contacting the
author. The data will be anonymised and used for research purposes only. Further information about the project can be obtained by visiting
project wiki oeraccessibility.pbworks.com or by contacting Anna Gruszczynska a.gruszczynska@shu.ac.uk. The researcher would like to thank
SCORE for their support for this research project.
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2. Accessibility and OERs
*1. Please read the statement below and if you are happy to continue with the survey,
click "agree".
I understand that my data will be used for research purposes only and my anonymity
will be preserved. Any data I provide will be held in accordance with the Data Protection
Act 1988.
j
k
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n Agree
j
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n Disagree
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3. Accessibility and OERs
Basic information
2. In which part of the world do you usually work?
j
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n UK
j
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m
n Europe
j
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n Rest of the world
*3. Which sector(s) do you work in?
c
d
e
f
g Higher Education
c
d
e
f
g Further Education
c
d
e
f
g Adult/Community/ Voluntary
c
d
e
f
g Work Based Learning
c
d
e
f
g Schools
Other (please specify)
*4. Please identify your current role(s) and select any that apply.
c
d
e
f
g Teaching
c
d
e
f
g Research
c
d
e
f
g Learning technology support
c
d
e
f
g Staff development
c
d
e
f
g Library staff
Other (please specify)
5. Which discipline area are you located in? If none of the areas below are a good fit,
please specify your discipline area in the "other" field. If you work across several areas,
please indicate the mix in the "other" field.
c
d
e
f
g Arts, Languages and History
c
d
e
f
g Mathematics, Computing and Engineering
c
d
e
f
g Sciences and Environmental Sciences
c
d
e
f
g Health and Medicine
c
d
e
f
g Social Sciences
c
d
e
f
g Education
c
d
e
f
g Business and Management
Other (please specify)
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4. Accessibility and OERs
6. Within the past three years, have you been working on a project where there was a
requirement by funders to create, share or use Open Educational Resources (i.e.
teaching materials freely available online at point of access, usually Creative­Commons
licensed)?
j
k
l
m
n Yes
j
k
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m
n No
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5. Accessibility and OERs
7. If yes, please specify project name(s). Please expand any acronyms used and supply
project web address if known.
5
6
8. As far as you are aware, was accessibility embedded within the following elements of
the project:
Yes No
project plan j
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n j
k
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n
resource creation j
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n j
k
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m
n
project evaluation j
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n j
k
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n
project report j
k
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n j
k
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n
Other (please specify)
9. Are there any accessibility issues which emerged in the context of the OER project
you would like to share? Feel free to comment on any challenges you faced, solutions
you have adopted, things you wish you would have known before embarking on the
project, lessons you would like to share with others etc.
5
6
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6. Accessibility and OERs
*10. Do you select, adapt or use web­based learning resources in the context of your
main employment?
Yes No Not applicable
For students j
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n j
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n j
k
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n
For colleagues j
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
For others j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
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n j
k
l
m
n
*11. Do you design or create web­based learning resources (teaching and learning
resources such as worksheets, presentations, quizzes etc.) in the context of your main
employment?
Yes No Not applicable
For students j
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l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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m
n
For colleagues j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
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n j
k
l
m
n
For others j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
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n j
k
l
m
n
12. Have you released any of these resources as an Open Educational Resource under
a Creative Commons License?
j
k
l
m
n Yes
j
k
l
m
n No
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7. Accessibility and OERs
13. When searching for web­based learning resources, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is
least important and 5 is very important), please indicate how important is it for you that
the resource has the following features:
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
keyboard­only navigation j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
compatibility with screen j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
magnification software
compatibility with screen­ j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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n
reader devices
compatibility with voice j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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m
n
recognition software
transcript for any j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
audio/video elements of
the resource
alternative description for j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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n
any images used
ability to customise j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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n
settings (such as font type,
size and colour;
background colours etc.)
information for the user j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
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n
about any in­built
accessibility considerations
easily available alternative j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
file formats
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8. Accessibility and OERs
14. When creating your own web­based learning resources, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where
1 is least important and 5 is very important), please indicate how important is it for you
that the resource has the following features:
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
keyboard­only navigation j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
compatibility with screen j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
magnification software
compatibility with screen­ j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
reader devices
compatibility with voice j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
recognition software
transcript for any j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
audio/video elements of
the resource
alternative description for j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
any images used
ability to customise j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
settings (such as font type,
size and colour;
background colours etc.)
information for the user j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
about any in­built
accessibility considerations
easily available alternative j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n
file formats
15. On a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is least important and 5 is very important), which of the
following factors would influence your decision to choose a particular resource for
your teaching to accommodate any potential additional learning needs of your
learners?
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
Recommendation from j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
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n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
colleague
Recommendation from an j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
accessibility specialist
Recommendation by a j
k
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m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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m
n
professional body dealing
with accessibility such as
JISCTechDis
Reputation of the creator j
k
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m
n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
of the resource
Clear description of the j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
resource which indicates
relevant accessibility
features
I wouldn’t choose a j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
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m
n
resource created by
somebody else for my
teaching
Other j
k
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n j
k
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m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
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9. Accessibility and OERs
16. Imagine that you are trying to create an accessible and openly available web­based
resource on a topic relevant to your discipline. The resource will be deposited online
and so anyone will be able to access it, where some learners might have additional
learning needs (for instance because of a hearing or visual impairment). On a scale of 1
to 5 (where 1 is not at all helpful and 5 is very helpful), which of the following tools and
strategies would be most helpful to you in that process?
1 2 3 4 5
Guidance from a j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n
colleague experienced in
OER creation
Guidance from a j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n
professional body dealing
with accessibility such as
JISCTechDis
Guidance from an j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n
accessibility specialist
Support from a learning j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n
technologist
Support from your j
k
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n j
k
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n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
institution to cover any
additional costs
(transcription, training etc.)
Case studies showcasing j
k
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m
n j
k
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m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n j
k
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n
issues involved in creating
accessible OERs
I wouldn’t consider j
k
l
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n j
k
l
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n j
k
l
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n j
k
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n j
k
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n
releasing my resources
openly online
Other j
k
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m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
l
m
n j
k
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n
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10. Accessibility and OERs
17. You're almost finished! Do you have any further comments about this survey?
5
6
18. Would you like to receive a copy of the report emerging from this research project?
j
k
l
m
n Yes
j
k
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m
n No
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11. Accessibility and OERs
19. Would you be happy to be contacted by email to discuss your answers more fully?
j
k
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n Yes
j
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n No
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12. Accessibility and OERs
20. If you wish to be contacted by the author of this survey, please confirm your name
and email.
Name
Email
Page 12

13. Accessibility and OERs
Thank you for taking part in the survey. If you wish to learn more about the project, please contact the researcher at a.gruszczynska@shu.ac.uk.
The researcher would like to thank SCORE (Support Centre for Open Resources in Education) for their support and in particular Tim Seal. I
would also like to express thanks to Chris Pegler for permission to reuse some of the questions used in ORIOLE survey (see
http://orioleproject.blogspot.co.uk/).
Page 13