A customized learning experience
When educational publisher, Nelson Education (external link) , announced their commitment to accessibility, the company sought out expertise to ensure their goods and services were compliant and could be enjoyed by all. Nelson’s digital production manager, Debbie Yea, learned about The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education’s Experiential Learning Exchange (ELX) and volunteered to lead the Nelson Education audit. Though her understanding of web accessibility was limited, she enrolled in the ELX program to obtain one-on-one coaching throughout the duration of her work assignment.
“My company was initially going to hire an external vendor to perform the audit, but when I volunteered to lead the project, they liked the idea of training an internal staff member to complete the task – it not only saved them money but now I am an internal resource for future web accessibility matters and can share my knowledge with the team,” said Yea. “With helpful direction and supervision from my instructor, I am pleased to report that the audit was successfully completed in two weeks.”
The ELX program offers one-on-one coaching and master classes for real-world projects. Participants can choose what they want to learn and can set their own pace. The program emphasizes hands-on, project-based activities and connects learners with coaches, expert advisors, and peers – a unique flexible learning model for participants at every stage of their career.
“At The Chang School, we understand that customization is a key trend in continuing education. We identified a need for individuals to continue exploring personal and professional development in a way that empowers them to have a say in course structure, objectives, and outcomes,” said Marie Bountrogianni, dean, The Chang School. “Built as a customized learning experience, ELX is a flexible model geared towards anyone who wants to focus on a specific, career-building skill with an emphasis on learning by doing.”
This past August, Yea was invited to present her learnings at an internal company conference to educate her colleagues on the importance of inclusive web design and how to maintain compliance moving forward.
“With my company relying on me to complete the audit, I am thankful my instructor was so patient and knowledgeable – guiding me through every stage of the project,” said Yea. “In the end, I earned a coveted skill, my organization was pleased and I also received a digital badge for my LinkedIn profile.”
Learn more about the ELX program
Inspiring Industry Leaders is a series by the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic, and Ryerson Today. Each story showcases the opportunities for student learning outside the traditional classroom. From internships to co-ops, conferences and industry travel – Ryerson students are gaining career-focused experience, enhancing their degree and discovering opportunities to make an impact in their field and on society.
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