Overview of the Accessible Course Creation Academy (ACCA) (Online)

The ARC Accessible Course Creation Academy (ACCA) guides participants with creating accessible course content in their own courses. This completely online course provides a thorough explanation of accessibility within online, hybrid, or web-enhanced courses. It focuses on the skills instructors need to make their courses compliant with Federal laws (ADA and Section 508 standards), technologically accessible, and culturally responsive for a broad range of students. The course covers how to use online tools, including Canvas–our course management system (CMS), to create accessible resources, retrofit existing resources, and curate new resources through exploration and hands-on demonstrations of effective practices in accessibility. The focal point of the course is learning how to use editors (both in Canvas and in common software, such as Microsoft Word) to enhance accessibility. 

In addition to creating an overarching accessibility plan for their courses, instructors learn how to:

• Create accessible content pages, discussions, and assignments in Canvas;
• Create accessible documents, such as Word and PDFs;
  
• Create closed-captions for video.

The ACCA is composed of six modules and is taught entirely online. While the ACCA is taught within Canvas, affording opportunities for participants to learn and use the different tools and functions for future classes, this is not a Canvas training class. Participants are required to either have attended a Canvas Basics (3-hour) workshop within the last six months or be currently using Canvas in their courses BEFORE attending ANY of the Accessible Course Creation Academy sessions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Define accessibility and explain the pertinent Federal, State, and District requirements
• Explain the purpose of creating accessible content
• Identify barriers to access
• Explain the assistive technology/design techniques needed to overcome barriers
• List campus resources available to assist you and your students with accessibility issues
• Create accessible content within your Canvas courses
• Create accessible documents using Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, and/or PDF
• Evaluate multimedia content for accessibility
• Caption video
• Check curated resources for accessibility using online tools
• Develop a comprehensive plan for creating an accessible online course

Spring 2022 Schedule

The American River College Spring 2022 ACCA online course is scheduled
for six online sessions between February 18, 2022 and April 1, 2022.

ACCA Prerequisites

This is not Canvas Training!

• Participants must have attended a Canvas Basics training within the last six months, completed an alternative professional development activity such as the 3CSN Canvas 101 & 102 courses or the @One Introduction to Teaching with Canvas – Self-Paced; or be currently using Canvas in your courses BEFORE beginning the Accessible Course Creation Academy.
• You must know how to use Canvas and how to utilize the Canvas tools to create effective accessible online content!

Receive Salary Advancement Credit!

Two units of salary advancement credit, for those currently placed in Class I-III of your salary schedule, are available for participation in the ARC Accessible Course Creation Academy pending approval of your dean. You must submit your request for salary advancement credit to the District PRIOR to attending the Academy. See the Class/Step Placement and Advancement for Faculty webpage for more information.

LRCCD Salary Advancement Credit Application

Additional Notes

For more information see the information page for the Accessible Course Creation Academy

Registration