Access to media and technology in schools is a necessity for all students, to ensure that they can learn and interact with the curriculum, and to assist in the meeting of age appropriate learning outcomes. This access empowers students to be more independent learners, gain knowledge, and to become active members of our society.
The importance of access to media
Access to media incorporates the use of accessible formats, such as captioning and audio description (AD).
When audiovisual curriculum content is presented using video with captions and/or audio description, students are able to benefit from inclusion in the learning process, and can demonstrate their knowledge, as required in class.
Students with diverse learning needs, including those with sensory impairments, require the use of captions or audio description to assist in deriving meaning from audiovisual content.
An approach aiming to give all students equal opportunity to learn is Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and access to media fits well with this philosophy.
The Australian Curriculum is delivered nationally with the support of a variety of media and technological devices. Teachers need to keep up to date with emerging technologies and trends, and access to media is key part of this. Learning about technologies which increase access to education is beneficial for all students and specific technologies are vital for students with hearing impairment or deafness or low vision or blindness.
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