Designing Accessible Digital Learning: An Asynchronous Graduate Course

Morgan A., Saykılı A.

AECT Convention 2025, Nevada, United States Of America, 20 - 24 October 2025, vol.15, (Full Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume: 15
  • Doi Number: 10.59668/2579.27038
  • City: Nevada
  • Country: United States Of America
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This design case describes a fully online, six-week graduate course that prepares future learning designers to create accessible, inclusive digital learning. Grounded in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2), Universal Design for Learning (UDL 3.0), and generative AI (GenAI), the course engages students in building an educational website through iterative units. Each unit integrates empathy challenges and positions GenAI as a co-designer while maintaining human oversight. We also describe adaptations for working in low-bandwidth, mobile-first contexts. The paper concludes with design implications for leveraging such courses as testbeds to study AI-enabled accessibility practices in online education.