Skills In-Sight is an accessible toolkit for blind and partially sighted people completing an initial assessment in English and Maths. It can be used in education, training or work based learning environments.
The Skills In-Sight Toolkit is intended to combine the on-screen toolkit with alternative resources. For example if a learner wants to re-read a question they will have the option to use either the on-screen version, use large print or Braille, depending upon their own preferences.
An Initial Assessment process has two phases:
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The Initial Assessment gauges the current working level of the learner.
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A Diagnostic Assessment phase identifies specific learning strengths and learning development needs.
Aside from the increased use of technology to support teaching and learning in schools, colleges and universities, a greater emphasis is also now placed on technology to support the assessment process. 'E-assessment' or 'On-line assessment' are now commonplace within education environments.
While the prospect of completing any form of assessment can be daunting for a learner, the practical implications for a VI learner of using on-screen versions can be more problematic. This can mean the answers to questions may not be based solely upon subject knowledge but also on how well they can access the question.
Previous similar qualifications including Key Skills and the Adult Core Curriculum have similar accessibility problems for on-screen initial assessments.
Helping to promote independance
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) have supported the development of an accessible on-line toolkit which has been developed through the 'Skills In-Sight Project' by Action for Blind People. The overall aim of the toolkit is to promote independence for any individual with sight loss who may be completing an on-line initial assessment for maths and English. Research identified a discrepancy in the way that assessments were completed for blind and partially sighted learners compared to their sighted peers.
Where visual questions may ask for answers, e.g. look at the graph, alternative options were not always available or were varied in their quality. The use of staff members to read questions also brought issues for some individuals completing the assessment. By having information read out to them the individual may have to rely on memory to answer the question or request the information to be re-read a number of times, which can cause embarrassment.
Why English and Maths?
English and mathematics assessments are part of the induction process in many specialist colleges, further education colleges and work-based learning environments. The Skills In-Sight toolkit is designed to create a 'level playfield,' allowing visually impaired people to demonstrate their abilities, gain access to education and qualifications, and provide the opportunity to prove their abilities to potential employers.
Find out more!
If your organisation or educational establishment uses an initial assessment process for English and maths, you can find further information on making this accessible to blind and partially sighted people with the Skills In-Sight toolkit.