Faculty Increase Course Accessibility for Students

Published: November 19, 2021

College of Western Idaho (CWI) faculty participated in Accessibility Week Nov. 8 – 12, hosted by the College's Center for Teaching and Learning. Resources, training, and contests highlighted how small course changes help students learn by increasing course access and engaging in course content. Faculty were encouraged to raise the accessibility score on their course content provided by a technology called Ally. This tool provides faculty with just-in-time feedback on how to increase the accessibility of their content and provides students the ability to download alternative file formats from audio files to web-based formats and even braille.

Since CWI implemented this software in January 2020, more than 8,500 students have downloaded over 33,000 files, empowering each of these students to learn in a way that best meets their learning needs. 

Congratulations to the the following individuals who demonstrated the highest percentage of improvement over the course of the week. Additionally, congratulations to Kevin Platts, Director of Public Safety Programs, and the entire Department of Public Safety whose courses had the highest overall accessibility scores! 

Top 5 Individual Daily Greatest Daily % Change:

1. Holly Paquette, Biology – 10.67% 

2. Luke Yeates, Communication – 7.50%

3. Julia Bennett, Communication – 7.03%

4. Susan Aydelotte, Math – 5.81%

5. Christina Moore, Biology – 5.77%



Top 5 Individual Weekly Greatest % Change:

1. Denise Heald, English – 14.03%

2. Susan Aydelotte, Math – 11.14%

3. Luke Yeates, Communication – 10.80%

4. Holly Paquette, Biology – 10.55%



Trivia Winners

1. Chloe Howard

2. Amy Vassar

3. Lynne Tucker

More from CWI

Surgical Technology students in the lab

Health Science students can explore healthcare programs, meet local employers, and learn about transfer opportunities during Healthcare Discovery Night on Oct. 5

Read more about Discover Healthcare Careers
Rows of people sit in front of tables, while watching speaker

Hosted by Agricultural Sciences department, the event will feature a five-course meal with produce grown in CWI’s Urban Market Garden and specialties from local partners.

Read more about Farm to Fork is Back!
Hands pulling an object out of the dirt

CWI is co-sponsoring this year’s conference, which will bring together members of Idaho’s archaeological community to share research, discuss developments in the field, and build...

Read more about Idaho Archaeological Society Annual Conference Comes to CWI
Shirts, sweaters, cups on display at Bookstore

The Bookstore will move to its new home in the Nampa Campus CapEd Student Success Center. To prepare for the move, the Bookstore will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, through Wednesday, Sept...

Read more about Bookstore Moving to CapEd Student Success Center
Brooke Garman standing near Otter wall

College of Western Idaho is pleased to announce the appointment of Brooke Garman as Athletics Operations Coordinator.

Read more about Garman Named Athletics Operations Coordinator
CWI Sixth Cohort in CWI Classroom space

CWI and Micron celebrated a major workforce milestone with the opening of Micron’s Boise Training Center and the launch of its largest local apprentice cohort.

Read more about CWI Celebrates New Micron Training Center and Welcomes Sixth Apprenticeship Cohort
Group of people cut ribbon to new building

The College's new Nampa Campus CapEd Student Success Center puts academic resources, student services, and spaces to connect all in one place.

Read more about CWI Celebrates Grand Opening of CapEd Student Success Center
Exterior view of Nampa Campus Quad including the CapEd Student Success Center and Academic Building

CWI invites the community to help shape the future of its Nampa Campus during two Master Plan open houses Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Read more about CWI Invites Community to Help Shape Nampa Campus
Instructor and student work on HVAC unit in lab

Join us to explore in-demand careers and training available through Workforce Development's Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing Apprenticeship programs.

Read more about Fall 2026 Apprenticeship Open House
25 percent off sign on top of clothes

The Bookstore is getting ready to move, and that means big savings for students, employees, and the community!

Read more about CWI Bookstore Moving Sale

News QR Code

URL: https://cwi.edu/index%2ephp/news/faculty-increase-course-accessibility-students<br>