Accessiblity Through Usability

Abstract

In the UK there has been an increasing number of students in Higher Education through the last decade. As this number grows there is a greater diversity in the student population and therefore an increasing number of students with 'special needs'. This includes overseas students whose first language may not be English, disabled students and mature students. Within the department of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire we have been developing alternative methods both to teach and to assess our students. In particular we are using web-based education (WBE) tools as a means of disseminating course content and information, and student assessment. In this paper we investigate the notion of accessibility through usability through the design and implementation of an interactive pedagogical website. While it is not apparently primarily targeted at any one specific student group, its strength is a 'look good, feel good factor' for all students groups.