Why self-paced training is so effective
During a self-paced training course, students can learn at the rate that works best for their individual situation, rather than adhering to a strict schedule determined by the instructor.
This model of on-demand learning has several advantages over traditional classroom learning models.
1. Scheduling
Students in a self-paced training class can learn the material at the times and places that are most convenient for them. They can move more quickly through modules that they already know, and even go back and revisit material for which they need a refresher. This is particularly useful for team training, when coordinating the schedules of many different people may be difficult or impossible.
2. Learning style
Different students have different learning styles: some are visual learners, while others need to work through lots of practice problems. Self-paced courses give students more freedom to use the learning methodology that best fits their needs and speed. In addition, employees can focus on the parts of the curriculum that are most relevant for their jobs.
3. Cost-effectiveness
Self-paced training courses are usually less expensive than traditional classes for both students and institutions. Students don’t have to pay for travel expenses, and institutions can scale the course to more students without placing a heavier load on the instructor. What’s more, employees can learn during downtime or outside work, so that organizations don’t have to suffer losses in productivity.
4. Results
With self-paced learning, different students will have a more consistent experience and education, because all students receive the same materials. According to one study, in many cases self-paced learners can retain more knowledge than students using standard learning methods.
BoIA’s self-paced web accessibility courses
The Bureau of Internet Accessibility currently offers three self-paced training courses on web accessibility. Students who complete these courses will receive a certificate of completion testifying that they finished the material and required activities.
Accessibility Best Practices
Accessibility Best Practices is an introductory course that serves as a primer for anyone who is new to the topic of web accessibility. Students will learn about the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, the most widely used standard for making digital content accessible to people with disabilities. Through videos, quizzes, and real-life case studies, students who complete this course will understand everything they need to put web accessibility into practice.
Mobile Accessibility Best Practices
More than half of web traffic is now generated by mobile devices. To be truly accessible, web content must be usable by people with disabilities not only on desktops and laptops, but also on smartphones and tablets. The Mobile Accessibility Best Practices course is an in-depth exploration of mobile-friendly and responsive web design as they concern topics in accessibility.
PDF Accessibility
All the content on a website must be accessible to people with disabilities: text, multimedia content such as images and videos, and files such as spreadsheets and PDF documents. The PDF Accessibility course discusses how to solve many common issues when making PDF documents work with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
You can get started with self-paced training today
BoIA’s self-paced courses will teach you the knowledge you need to start making your websites accessible to people with disabilities. To learn more about the content of each course or to get started, visit our training portal a11y Academy.
Or, contact us. We look forward to helping you achieve, maintain, and prove digital compliance.
