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Wrestling With Online Learning Technologies: Blind Students’ Struggle to Achieve Academic Success

Wrestling With Online Learning Technologies: Blind Students’ Struggle to Achieve Academic Success

Samuel Muwanguzi, Lin Lin
Copyright: © 2010 |Volume: 8 |Issue: 2 |Pages: 15
ISSN: 1539-3100|EISSN: 1539-3119|EISBN13: 9781609603823|DOI: 10.4018/jdet.2010040104
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MLA

Muwanguzi, Samuel, and Lin Lin. "Wrestling With Online Learning Technologies: Blind Students’ Struggle to Achieve Academic Success." IJDET vol.8, no.2 2010: pp.43-57. http://doi.org/10.4018/jdet.2010040104

APA

Muwanguzi, S. & Lin, L. (2010). Wrestling With Online Learning Technologies: Blind Students’ Struggle to Achieve Academic Success. International Journal of Distance Education Technologies (IJDET), 8(2), 43-57. http://doi.org/10.4018/jdet.2010040104

Chicago

Muwanguzi, Samuel, and Lin Lin. "Wrestling With Online Learning Technologies: Blind Students’ Struggle to Achieve Academic Success," International Journal of Distance Education Technologies (IJDET) 8, no.2: 43-57. http://doi.org/10.4018/jdet.2010040104

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Abstract

This study examines the usability challenges and emotional reactions of blind college students in their attempts to access online educational materials and to communicate with colleagues through online technologies. A case study approach was adopted. Five students were interviewed regarding their online learning experiences using Blackboard, a popular Course Management System. Analysis of the interviews revealed that Blackboard was poorly accessible to the blind students, which affected achieving their academic goals. The study also showed that the blind students were motivated and optimistic of their successes despite their frustrations and feelings of marginalization. The study suggests that academic administrators and database designers work jointly with adaptive software developers in developing enhanced user interfaces to ensure universal access and usability of online technologies and to reduce educational inequities and frustrations encountered by blind students.

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