Database to list barrier-free e-learning products

E-Learn-Vip has opened an online database with tested e-learning systems. It is now available at the following address: http://www.manetu-03.de/apps/e-learn-vip/base.nsf

The database includes the tested systems with further information about the product and the results concerning accessibility for users with visual impairments.

Service providers and developers of e-learning services and products who are interested in announcing their barrier-free products on this database can use this service, which is free of charge. A report form is available on the website at:
http://www.e-learn-vip.org/ReportFormEN.doc.  E-Learning software can also be tested for accessibility free of charge.

Accessibility label and the rating system

The project partners agreed to award those products complying with the standards of the developed rating system with a specially designed "Accessibility Label". This Label is awarded in three levels (A to AAA). Products that do not yet fulfil all of these criteria but appear to be accessible with few restrictions are also mentioned with specific explanations in the database.

The purpose of the labels is to provide an easy-to-use, objective classification of the tested systems.

The three rating systems present the major product of the combined efforts of the partners, and they provide a model for a thorough evaluation of LMS, CBT and VCS. The partners have created three rating systems with a common structure and layout.

The purpose of the three rating systems is to be able to decide whether an E-learning environment is accessible or not. The rating systems are not designed to be used as self tests.

Each of the three rating systems consists of a large number of questions that can be answered only in the affirmative or the negative. The questions are divided into three groups.

The first group consists of all the indispensable requirements for accessibility. If the product obtains a "yes" in all the questions in this group, it will be awarded one “A”. The second group consists of important, but not indispensable, criteria. If the product obtains a "yes" in all the questions in this group and the first group, it will be awarded "AA". The last group consists of helpful, but not important criteria. If the product obtains a "yes" in all the questions in this group as well as in the first two groups, it will be awarded "AAA".

Consortium for e-Learning Accessibility - C4EA

In relation to the experiences of all of the partners as to positive feedback about this project initiative, it is almost certain that the "Consortium for E-learning Accessibility" (abbreviated to C4EA) will be founded in summer 2006. This open consortium will be open for all stakeholders and (user) groups in e-learning, to continue the work in improving accessibility. The formal foundation of this consortium is planned during the last transnational workshop of the project in Graz/Austria from 16 June to 17 June 2006. The focus of the future work will be extended to the accessibility requirements for other groups with special needs (e.g. deaf people). The promoter of the project intends to protect the C4EA consortium name and the label by trademark. The infrastructural and personnel structure for this consortium will be the European Network for Visually Impaired people for Training, Education and Research - ENVITER.

Forthcoming: guidelines for e-learning system developers

The project consortium is now preparing a guideline for e-learning system developers. This manual gives crucial advice on how to create barrier-free e-learning systems. These guidelines will be ready for downloading at the end of April 2006 at www.e-learn-vip.org