How can I create an inclusive online-class for students with hearing impairments?
How can I create an inclusive online-class for students with hearing impairments?
We recommend generally, not to reduce online teaching to videoconferencing via Zoom.Especially with regards to inclusion, asynchronous teaching methods and materials have more to offer.
Sometimes, the sound quality in video conferences is noicy and hard to hear and this makes it particularly difficult for people with hearing impairments to participate.
Make sure that all teaching content is put online not only via materials including sound (e.g. podcasts, videos), but that you are also handing out text files.
- If you are recording videos, make sure to use excellent sound and picture quality. For students with hearing difficulties, the sound and picture quality matters a lot. Even better: If you are using videos, please also add subtitles to the videos. Read our FAQ item on how to create subtitles.
- If you are offering regular office hours online, please take care that you have an equivalent service for students with hearing impairments, such as office hours via e-mail or chat.
- If you are planning video conferences with students with hearing impairments, please ask your students beforehand, what they need to participate. We put together some advice under the questions “How can I have a video conference with students with hearing impairments?”