MOOCs’ digital equity and accessibility study

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) aim to expand the range of learners providing learning opportunities to everyone. However, do they really reach out to everyone? This study on digital accessibility of MOOCs investigates their compatibility with learners with visual impairments. In general, it explores the needs and barriers these learners face and suggests improvements for designing more accessible and inclusive MOOCs. Overall, the results indicate that serious accessibility issues exist in MOOC platforms, preventing learners with visual impairments from fully participating in learning activities. We conclude this paper by recommending ways to design mobile MOOCs to make them more accessible for learners with visual impairments.