No two people are alike, and modern learning and development professionals must be aware of this as they teach to more diverse populations. This is especially true when it comes to online learning; when you host an online class, you could end up teaching a very diverse range of learners who have different educational needs and restrictions.
Every L&D professional needs to learn the keys to building a more inclusive learning environment. Inclusive learning environments are beneficial for both instructors and learners alike. Let’s discuss how you can do just that with a few simple steps.
Why is inclusivity important for learning environments?
Inclusivity is about more than just meeting educational benchmarks or following procedures. It’s an important part of ensuring that all of your employees can learn effectively.
Each learner has different learning abilities, comfort levels, and difficulties. This is true no matter whether you teach in person, online, or in a hybrid environment. The more inclusive you make your learning environment, the more easily your employees will absorb the materials you give them, and the less bias will affect your classes.
Ultimately, inclusivity results in several key benefits for you and your learners:
- Your employees maintain engagement more easily, so they actively absorb the materials from your courses.
- You can meet your employees’ learning preferences and needs, thus improving your skills and reputation as an instructor.
You learn how to teach a wider range of employees, allowing you to expand your classes in the future and potentially increase your earnings and cash flow if you teach online exclusively.
How to create an inclusive learning environment
Fortunately, there are many ways to create an inclusive learning environment for both in-person and online classrooms.
Acknowledge and work with people who have special needs
An inclusive learning environment is exactly what it implies. It’s an environment (in this case, your workplace) where all people feel that they are being supported, including those who have special needs or conditions such as ADHD or dyslexia that may affect their ability to learn or work.
For example, an L&D manager or online instructor can better accommodate learners with ADHD by:
- Avoiding distracting graphics on PowerPoint presentations
- Building in breaks for lessons
- Sticking to a strict routine for lesson times
- Sending reminder emails to learners when new classes are approaching or when deliverables are due
Alternatively, an online instructor can provide an inclusive learning environment for learners with dyslexia by:
- Using assistive technologies, such as spell checkers or speech to text software
- Allowing learners to learn from audiobooks rather than written papers
- Recording video lectures whenever possible
- Not counting spelling errors against such learners
A truly inclusive learning environment means that managers and instructors need to work together with employees in a thoughtful and respectful way. People with special conditions that affect their ability to learn or work are far more likely to do well in a setting where their situation is acknowledged, and where their managers and instructors make an effort to work with them. As noted above, meeting the learning needs of your employees can improve your own skills as a manager.
Include captions for videos/recordings
One of the easiest ways to create an inclusive learning environment is to include captions for any videos or recordings you plan to show. This is true for both in-person classes and online classes.
Captions are great for individuals with hearing impairments. You should include captions by default even if you don’t believe you have any special needs employees present at the time. If a video doesn’t come with closed captions, you can draw up a script for the video or recording and include it with the materials you present to your employees.
For learners with hearing impairments, it’s also a good idea to:
- Start a conversation by catching the person’s attention, and maintain eye contact
- Speak in front of the person in a normal way (without exaggerating). Pause your speech and check if the person understands.
- Favor writing and asynchronous work
- During group discussions: take a few seconds to summarize the discussion face to face
Use verbal descriptors or image descriptions
Similarly, many of your learners may benefit if you use verbal or image descriptions for any visual media you include in your lectures.
For example, say that you have a graph or chart meant to demonstrate a certain principle for the topic at hand. However, one of your employees or colleagues can’t download the image to their computer, or maybe they can’t make out the chart’s colors (perhaps because they are visually impaired and need to use screen readers).
If you have an image description ready, you can simply recite this description and break down what the chart describes. In this way, the learner gets the same educational value as the others, and you don’t have to slow down your lecture, nor do employees feel left behind by their peers. You can check what level of WCAG compliance your software, learning materials, or learning management system has.