Greetings WOL Friends!
This week Olivia reminds us that when tasks seem overwhelming we often stop. I remember my early years as an administrator when I was vexed because I couldn’t seem to get all the tasks completed or my desk clear. My to do list was usually the last thing I did before I left for the day, and often, before I even got back to my desk the next morning, I would have to update the list.
Desmond Tutu once wisely stated, "There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time." This metaphor for tackling seemingly insurmountable challenges or goals by breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps is an old and familiar saying, that helps us to remind of our limits.
So often we try to tackle things on our own - or with the use of technology (AI) when what we really might need is feedback from a friend or a walk - away from the technology to gather our own thoughts and prioritize. Sometimes just having someone listen or remind us we don’t have to do it all at once - gives us room to breathe. Olivia’s step-by-step examples are helpful here.
Thanks to everyone who participated and sponsored our first Online Learning Symposium. We had a marvolous time and the feedback from folks was fantastic.
If you would like to learn more about our program - the Worlds of Learning will be featured in the Statewide Student-Centered Learning initiative on April 15th. You or your staff can register here - SCL Reimagined Through Storyboarding - it is free!!
We have also hosted a Webinar for IU8 School Counselors to talk about how we can proactively help get all the courses your students want and deserve on their schedule. We are happy to host a time with you and your team.
Have a great week!
Pat
When the task seems too big…
by Olivia Grugan
“Just start now.”
That’s what I wrote at the top of my notes two Thursdays ago. I was attending a state-wide gathering of educators in the fields of instructional design and technology, and we were learning about new standards to ensure that our web material is accessible to all constituents. The task at hand felt daunting to many (myself included), I am sure. We may have felt underequipped, over committed and pressured for time.
We were not alone in these feelings, right?
Has a new initiative come your way, either through a mandate or a rising trend, that has left you feeling overwhelmed? Has the task seemed impossible?
The Challenge
I’ve never considered myself a perfectionist. I’m too satisfied by the completion of a task to be a true perfectionist, but I’m something adjacent. And when I started working in a formal leadership position, I found it very difficult to accept that we wouldn’t be able to do everything we set out to do at the level of quality we set out to do it. I often wished for something greater, more perfect, and therefore avoided even starting certain tasks.
This accessibility initiative feels like that. To achieve the level of accessibility we wish for, the level that all learners deserve, is not immediately possible with the people and resources we have. Accessible materials aren't just about compliance—they help ensure that all learners, regardless of abilities or circumstances, feel valued and included. The task is large. I don’t deny that. As I sat in the training two weeks ago and thought about all of the many improvements we could make in existing material, the impending weight of the work settled heavy on me.
But as I thought about NEW work that is being created now, that is about to be created, that weight began to lift. I started to think about individuals who create little tidbits each day, like our social media content creator, who could make their material more accessible with just a couple of simple shifts.
Starting NOW
Here are some of the things we are starting to work on. These are SIMPLE shifts that you can make so that your material is more accessible starting NOW. Keep these in mind as you send emails, write blog posts, create agendas, create lesson slides.
(These suggestions are, of course, just a start. If you’d like to learn more about accessibility in web content, feel free to reach out and we can connect you with some true experts in the field!)
Embed links using descriptive link text and add “(linked)” after any embedded link
Avoid using fonts with serifs (like this)
Avoid underlining anything that is not a link
Use accessibility checkers in your LMS
Add short image descriptions for all images (ALT text)
When you just start where you are and go forward, these changes take no more than several seconds each.
Looking back AND looking forward
This doesn’t mean we are exempt from looking at our past material. We need to do the slow, hard work of shifting all of our material to make it as accessible as possible (an always evolving task), but if we start in the past, we might get stuck there.
So, what's your 'just start now' moment? What small step can you take today to overcome something that’s been holding you back?
If you want to know more about the World of Learning and how we can help you or your district, contact us!
Quick Bites
Family News Letter
Upcoming Events
Share this post