Abstract

Guidelines developed by the ALERT (Accessibility in Learning Environments and Related Technologies) project identify ways of supporting students with a wide range of disabilities in their learning through an electronically accessible Learning Management System (LMS). This is an area of increasing importance as LMS use has grown rapidly in recent years. For example, in 2003, 86% of Higher Education Institutions in the UK had an LMS (UCISA, 2003). These guidelines aim to support disabled students’ learning through an LMS by encouraging faculty to modify their teaching role within an LMS. They focus on the attainment of pedagogical objectives, rather than the technical implications of using an LMS, and consider the implementation of e-tivities ranging from the provision of lecture support materials to online discussions. Each guideline has pedagogical, practical and strategic recommendations.