[WG: Accessibility] Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes

Mon Feb 10 10:08:30 PST 2014

Hi
I just noticed this thread and am going to bcc the Samigo team, just as an fyi to them, even though you are probably right Joe, it's not exactly a samigo issue. Currently, you have to create two separate groups and two separate assessments for accommodations of due dates or extra time but there was a desire to have a better way of creating exception. I think Indiana had a local patch to have both of those assessments go to same Gradebook item. But I had done a design in which instructors created one assignment and could extend time (due date and/or time limit) for one group OR individuals (SAM-1752). 
https://jira.sakaiproject.org/secure/attachment/33585/partial%20samigo%20Availability%20settings%2018%20August%202012.pdf

Since we didn't have volunteers to implement the design, we didn't get far in discussing SAM-1752 as far as whether individuals with exceptions would also be represented as groups of one, or in a different way entirely, nor did we get to the point of designing what this would look like on the student side of Tests & Quizzes (presumably, the individuals would only see the assignment, not multiple ones)*. 

We use Roster locally, but it is only visible to instructors right now, so students don't see that certain  students have their own group. One day we hope to show students Roster (we don't because we don't think they have good control over their privacy), and then we'd have the same issue too, but you are right, it's not specifically a Samigo issue.

Keli Amann
User Experience Specialist
Academic Computing Services, Stanford University

*P.S. No one has stepped forward to get the SAM-1752 design implemented but the design itself was vetted by Lynn and the T&L group, along with interested parties who attended the Samigo Working Group meetings. So we pared this design back to SAM-2071, which put the available, due, and time limit on the same row to to lay the groundwork for SAM-1752. However, even that layout shift didn't make it to the 2.10 future release, unless someone takes that on.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary A. Stores" <mstores at indiana.edu>
To: "Joseph A Humbert" <johumber at iu.edu>, "Neal Caidin" <neal.caidin at apereo.org>, "Matt Clare" <Matt.Clare at BrockU.CA>
Cc: accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org
Sent: Friday, February 7, 2014 11:50:43 AM
Subject: Re: [WG: Accessibility] Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes

I greee with Joe. For some people we are providing accommodations for now, the way the material is accessed is completely different than what the design originally was. 

Mary 

From: accessibility-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org [mailto:accessibility-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org] On Behalf Of Humbert, Joseph A 
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 2:46 PM 
To: Neal Caidin; Matt Clare 
Cc: accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org 
Subject: Re: [WG: Accessibility] Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes 

I think it needs to be approached from the groups side because we also use the groups to help provide accommodations using the resources tool (e.g. providing extra recourses only for a user with a disability). I also think we might find resources to work on the roster tool more easily than Samigo. Thankx. 

Sincerely, 

From: Neal Caidin [ mailto:neal.caidin at apereo.org ] 
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 2:33 PM 
To: Matt Clare 
Cc: Humbert, Joseph A; accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org 
Subject: Re: [WG: Accessibility] Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes 

I was thinking that looping in the Samigo team might make sense. Of course, another issue is where do the resources come from to implement a good solution? :-) 

Thanks, 
Neal 

Matt Clare 

February 7, 2014 at 2:30 PM 

Hi Joe and others, 

I understand the concern. We caution our instructors and others involved about turning the Roster tool on in these situations because of this. 

Any thoughts on the most productive path? (especially you: others) 

I see two ways to move forwards: 

1. Keep certain groups out of the Roster[2] tool and related locations (Messages comes to mind too) 

2. Tools like WeBWorK http://webwork.maa.org/ , a mathematical testing tool, allow for extending the test duration for individuals. We could suggest that the Samigo tool allow instructors to overdrive the Time Limit for individuals. 

The second option would have the added benefit off allowing one assessment to populate one Gradebook item and not force instructors to reconcile the other group assessments back to the single item. 

.\.\att 

Matt Clare 

Manager, eLearning 

Centre for Pedagogical Innovation 

Part-time Instructor 

Interactive Arts and Sciences 

Brock University, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada 

http://brocku.ca/pedagogical-innovation 905 688 5550 xt 4539 Office: SBH321 

From: <Humbert>, Joseph A < johumber at iu.edu > 
Date: Friday, February 7, 2014 at 1:56 PM 
To: Neal Caidin < neal.caidin at apereo.org > 
Cc: " accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org " < accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org > 
Subject: Re: [WG: Accessibility] Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes 

Hi Neal, The separate group with separate and hidden (to other participants) exam was being used to provide the needed accommodation without notifying the entire class the user has a disability. That is the heart of the complaints, the student’s privacy is being violated and is causing discrimination. The non-descript groups method is fine, but it is a workaround not a permanent solution. In addition to creating more work for the instructor/TA (creating 4+ groups), there still is some risk of discrimination with all users having access to group membership. For example, you have 14 students and 7 groups setup with a certain number of users in each group: [3,2,3,2,1,1,2]. Students still may inquire why two groups only have one member. So unless the instructor wants to release an extended time test to more than the student who needs it, there are always going to have to be groups with only one user. It is not very common to have two students in a class that need the same accommodation. Thankx. Sincerely, From: Neal Caidin [ mailto:neal.caidin at apereo.org ] Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 1:35 PM To: Humbert, Joseph A Cc: accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org Subject: Re: Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes Hi Joe, The non-descript group naming seems like a reasonable workaround and the main cost is the effort to educate faculty and others who maintain Sakai sites. That option is not being well received at Indiana? Cheers, Neal Humbert, Joseph A February 7, 2014 at 1:11 PM Hi All, We have just received complaints from students that groups set up in an Oncourse (our name for Sakai) course site for the purpose of providing extended time on quizzes and tests are visible to all participants in a course site when using the “Group Membership” view of the roster tool. This is not something new, but we are now receiving disability discrimination complaints about the issue. Therefore, we felt we should mention it to the wider group. A potential solution (that would take a large amount of work) would be to provide a preference for the Roster tool to hide certain groups from the “student” role similar to the setting to hide groups in the Messages tool. The current solution we will be using at Indiana University is to have multiple non-descript groups (group a, group b, etc.) so that the group with the person with a disability cannot be singled out. Any feedback from the group or other suggestions are welcome. Thankx. Sincerely, Joe Humbert, Principal Accessibility Analyst UITS Assistive Technology and Accessibility Centers Indiana University – Bloomington/Indianapolis 535 W Michigan St. IT210 F Indianapolis, IN 46202 http://iuadapts.iu.edu (317) 274-4378 [Direct Line] (317) 274-6482 [Main Office] johumber at iu.edu CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipients and may contain confidential and privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you may NOT use, disclose, copy, or disseminate this information. Please contact the sender by reply email immediately and destroy all copies of the original message including all attachments. Even if you are an intended recipient of this email, the author requests that you not forward it to any other person without prior consent. -- Neal Caidin Sakai Community Coordinator Apereo Foundation neal.caidin at apereo.org Skype me! (but let me know in advance for the first interaction) - nealkdin

Humbert, Joseph A 

February 7, 2014 at 1:56 PM 

Hi Neal, 

The separate group with separate and hidden (to other participants) exam was being used to provide the needed accommodation without notifying the entire class the user has a disability. That is the heart of the complaints, the student’s privacy is being violated and is causing discrimination. 

The non-descript groups method is fine, but it is a workaround not a permanent solution. In addition to creating more work for the instructor/TA (creating 4+ groups), there still is some risk of discrimination with all users having access to group membership. For example, you have 14 students and 7 groups setup with a certain number of users in each group: [3,2,3,2,1,1,2]. Students still may inquire why two groups only have one member. So unless the instructor wants to release an extended time test to more than the student who needs it, there are always going to have to be groups with only one user. It is not very common to have two students in a class that need the same accommodation. 

Thankx. 

Sincerely, 

From: Neal Caidin [ mailto:neal.caidin at apereo.org ] 
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 1:35 PM 
To: Humbert, Joseph A 
Cc: accessibility at collab.sakaiproject.org 
Subject: Re: Sakai Course Groups Created for Accommodation Purposes 

Hi Joe, 

The non-descript group naming seems like a reasonable workaround and the main cost is the effort to educate faculty and others who maintain Sakai sites. 

That option is not being well received at Indiana? 

Cheers, 
Neal 

Humbert, Joseph A 

February 7, 2014 at 1:11 PM 

Hi All, 

We have just received complaints from students that groups set up in an Oncourse (our name for Sakai) course site for the purpose of providing extended time on quizzes and tests are visible to all participants in a course site when using the “Group Membership” view of the roster tool. This is not something new, but we are now receiving disability discrimination complaints about the issue. Therefore, we felt we should mention it to the wider group. 

A potential solution (that would take a large amount of work) would be to provide a preference for the Roster tool to hide certain groups from the “student” role similar to the setting to hide groups in the Messages tool. 

The current solution we will be using at Indiana University is to have multiple non-descript groups (group a, group b, etc.) so that the group with the person with a disability cannot be singled out. 

Any feedback from the group or other suggestions are welcome. Thankx. 

Sincerely, 

Joe Humbert, Principal Accessibility Analyst 

UITS Assistive Technology and Accessibility Centers 

Indiana University – Bloomington/Indianapolis 

535 W Michigan St. IT210 F 

Indianapolis, IN 46202 

http://iuadapts.iu.edu 

(317) 274-4378 [Direct Line] 

(317) 274-6482 [Main Office] 

johumber at iu.edu 

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE 

This email message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipients and may contain confidential and privileged information. 

If you are not the intended recipient you may NOT use, disclose, copy, or disseminate this information. Please contact the sender by reply email immediately and destroy all copies of the original message including all attachments. Even if you are an intended recipient of this email, the author requests that you not forward it to any other person without prior consent. 

-- 
Neal Caidin 
Sakai Community Coordinator 
Apereo Foundation 
neal.caidin at apereo.org 
Skype me! (but let me know in advance for the first interaction) - nealkdin 

-- 
Neal Caidin 
Sakai Community Coordinator 
Apereo Foundation 
neal.caidin at apereo.org 
Skype me! (but let me know in advance for the first interaction) - nealkdin 

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