Re: programming schools
- From: "Christy Schulte" <christy@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 09:27:24 -0500
Figured I'd post here in case this is of interest to any others.
Kaplan is an accredited university with similar requirements as any other,
notable exceptions being they don't offer/require foreign language and some
of the other stuff that some schools do. but they have two year and four
year degrees, I chose a four year degree in Information Technology with a
programming emphasis. they also have things like networking, software
development and so forth. At this point I've taken some IT classes, but I've
just now finished my fourth term so a lot of it is still introductory
classes both in IT and stuff like college composition. They run on a
schedule of ten weeks per term with one week in between each, so a four year
degree actually finishes in more like three and a half. there's no summer
break, but there is a two week break around Christmas and New years time.
As far as accessibility. It's completely online, except that they do send
physical textbooks in most cases. These can of course be scanned, but I've
also found that once you get through the paperwork of signing up with their
disability services department, they are very good about getting books in
electronic format where possible. It took me a long time to get oficial with
them because I don't have ready sighted assistance to help me actually sign
the paperwork, but I finally got that done a couple weeks back. The same day
I got that in and my textbook request form, they got busy requesting my book
for next term in my database management class. I got the CD within three
weeks, shipped overnight once they actually got it from the publisher. there
is also often reading to do on various websites which the vast majority of
the time is no problem at all.
The class format is very accessible for the most part. There are a few
things to do every week. Readings from either the book or online or both,
which are posted on the class website. A discussion board, which is
required, works sort of like a forum but it's incorporated into the main
class site and is very much workable. Some weeks have projects, which in
most cases are required to be done in Word format and then you just upload
them to the site. and then there are what they call the flexible learning
activities. this can be either a seminar, or a quiz. The seminars are,
moderately accessible. they use a flash program for the chat, so you have to
keep cursoring around to read what people are saying since it won't read
automatically. Also the fields aren't labeled, I found out by experimenting
that the last edit field is where you type to say something. And sometimes
they'll put things on the whiteboard which is not accessible at all. That
said, I've been able to work with it, and I just explain to my instructor
and class in the beginning that there may be times I'm not able to respond
if I can't access what they're referring to. I really wish it could be
scripted and I knew how though... Heh. You can also take a quiz in place of
the seminar.
Let's see, what else. the tests and quizzes are very easy, using standard
form fields and with very adequate time limits (Twenty minutes for ten
question quizzes, two hours for 50-100 question exams). Even with that, the
disability office made it a point to ask if I would need extended time for
tests. I chose to decline that at least for now, but it let me know that
they could provide that if necessary.
Most times, since projects are to be submitted in word, I've had no problem.
Two exceptions to this were my web development class and the intro to
programming course I'm just now finishing. In web development, one of the
projects required a diagram of a website layout. I asked my instructor if I
could submit this in an outline form instead, and he refused saying a
diagram was required. I was rather annoyed, but found a friend willing to
help me do it. Good did come out of this though, as my instructor apparently
spoke to his supervisor, who is a huge, huge advocate for accessibility. she
told him he should have accepted an outline, and also made it a point to get
in touch with me and she's been a great resource ever since. For my intro to
programming class, all of the projects require a flow chart to be submitted
using Visio. Seeing this, I immediately contacted the instructor asking
permission to instead submit them using pseudocode. She agreed, and I've had
absolutely no issues with that class at all.
I still have no clue how I'm going to deal with the math classes that are
required, there are two. I've been putting it off but will have to do them
eventually. but so far, I've very much enjoyed it. This is maybe more info
than you wanted, but there it is.
Christy
Freebie Force, a great resource for finding free stuff and even making cash.
http://faylen.nocashever.com
Or email me for more info.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan McManomy" <kb9ram@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 7:45 AM
Subject: Re: programming schools
yes please give me more info.
my email is kb9ram@xxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christy Schulte" <christy@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 3:55 AM
Subject: Re: programming schools
I'm currently going to school online with Kaplan University in order to
get a degree in IT, programming emphasis. If that's the kind of thing
you're talking about let me know and I can give you more information. If
you're looking for something more focused like a specific language
without an actual degree, afraid I can't answer that one.
Christy
Freebie Force, a great resource for finding free stuff and even making
cash.
http://faylen.nocashever.com
Or email me for more info.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan McManomy" <kb9ram@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 4:18 PM
Subject: programming schools
Hello I want to know if anyone on this list has taken a online class for
computer programming and is so what works best with jaws.
How hard or easy was it to get your books for the class in a format you
can read?
Thanks for any and all help!!
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