Importance of the POUR Principles
Importance of the POUR Principles

Importance of the POUR Principles

Do you remember about the POUR principles we learned in EDU 226? Watch the video below to refresh your memory. 

Using the information we learned from the unit in UDL, discuss how each of the POUR accessibility principles support the designing for accessible teaching and learning materials.

Add your responses in the comments section below.

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Yrka Paula (She/her)

The creation of accessible teaching and learning resources is based on the POUR accessibility principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Each principle supports accessibility in education by aligning with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the following ways:
Perceivable: Supports UDL’s representation principle by guaranteeing that all students may access content in a variety of formats (such as captions and alt text).
Operable: Enhances UDL’s action and expression by offering a variety of interface possibilities, such as keyboard navigation.
Understandable: Encourages instructions and material to be clear, which is consistent with UDL’s engagement principle.
Robust: Guarantees accessibility across all platforms and devices and compatible with assistive technologies.
These Principles produce flexible, inclusive resources that enable every student to achieve.

Mauricio (He)
20 days ago

During ED-226 and the video, I learned that the WCAG standards reflect four principles, which can be remembered using the acronym POUR:

Perceivable: All learners can see, hear, and/or touch the information. For instance, the teacher should use legible fonts and sizes. Fancy scripts, scrawled text, cramped lettering, or small fonts can make it more difficult for learners with low vision, dyslexia, or learning disabilities to understand your content.

Operable: All learners can navigate the information independently using their preferred tools. For instance, some PowerPoint-based games include time limits, but users need to be able to pause or disengage the timer. Some learners, such as those with limited mobility, require additional time to complete interactions. For others, time limits create debilitating anxiety that’s not conducive to learning.

Understandable: Clear and predictable design ensures that all learners can understand the information. As good educators, we must provide clear instructions, preferably in multiple formats. For example, in an instructor-led class, we don’t rely solely on the facilitator to give oral instructions; we also provide them in writing for our students.

Robust: All learners can access information on a range of current and future technologies, including assistive technologies. In other words, content must be robust enough to be reliably interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. This means that teachers must be able to access the content as technologies advance; as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible.

Educators committed to UDL should present content in accessible, flexible, and multiple formats. Furthermore, they consider ways to use a variety of physical and digital materials to support student learning. Educators may accomplish this in many ways.

Jean Miller
21 days ago

The POUR accessibility principles support the designing for accessible teaching and learning materials. The material must be perceivable or accessed in a variety of ways (closed captions on videos). The material must be operable which provides several ways (typing, the use of the mouse, voice, etc…) to input information into a computer. The material must be understandable or shown in a clear logical way. The material must also be robust or be able to work with a variety of assistive technology, other devices, and platforms. When these principles are followed accessible teaching and learning materials are produced.

Zainab Barry
24 days ago

 The POUR accessibility principle stands for: Perceivable this is to make sure all students including those with a learning disability will be able to understand the information. Operable: It means students should be able to access the content or information using various means to accommodate their learning ability.Understandable: The information should be clear to enhance comprehension.Robust: This means the content should work with all technologies.

 

Elena Camacho
29 days ago

The POUR accessibility principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—create a framework for accessible teaching that benefits all students:
1. Perceivable: Ensure all students can access content through various formats like text, audio, and visuals, supporting different sensory needs.
2. Operable: Make materials navigable and usable for all students, accommodating various input methods and removing timing barriers.
3. Understandable: Use clear language and consistent layouts so students can easily comprehend and engage with the material.

4. Robust: Ensure content works with current and future assistive technologies, allowing flexible use for all learners.

These principles ensure teaching is adaptable and inclusive, aligning with UDL’s goal of accessibility for all.

Zandra Prestigiacomo (She/Her)

The POUR principles are key for making teaching materials accessible. POUR is an acronym for:

Perceivable: Making information easy to see and hear (like captions for videos).
Operable: Ensuring everyone can interact with materials (like using keyboard shortcuts).
Understandable: Keeping things clear and simple (use plain language).

Robust: Ensuring materials works with different technology (like screen readers).

Elisa Velez
4 months ago

The POUR principle makes the designing of teaching and learning materials because it creates the guidelines by which each tool must be measured to.

Perceivable- consider whether tool can be accessible by diverse learners

Operable- can the tools be easy manipulated by divers learners

Understandable- can all learners make sense of the materials at hand

Robust- is there compatibility with other digital tools

Martin Adames
4 months ago

The POUR principles are guidelines created to make experiences accessible and inclusive to everyone. These are similar to the principles of Universal Design for Learning. As I watched the video, I connected the POUR principles to UDL checkpoints.

Perceivable: Like UDL is creating content that can be represented in various forms, and adapted to more than one sense. Things like captions, and transcripts. Similar to UDL guidelines around access and perception, and ways of customizing, the display of information.

Operable: Creating devices such as mouse, pads, or speech commands. Also shortcuts and simple steps and guides. Operable, also includes creating ways to navigate the tools, materials, or systems. The UDL guideline checkpoint 4.1 also refers to methods for response and navigation. It is about reducing physical barriers to learning or creating ways to access information and activities.

Understandable: This principle relates to creating digital material that is logical and easy to understand. This principle also includes user-friendly vocabulary, and jargon-free language, and provides vocabulary definitions, and access to content in multiple languages. UDL Checkpoint 2.4 promotes access across languages. UDL checkpoint 2.1 is about clarifying vocabulary and symbols. These are both checkpoints around the representation of materials and content.

Robust: Considers devices, and tools, that are compatible across platforms, such as internet browsers. This is similar to UDL engagement and representation guidelines. Engagement recognizes the use of different tools and ideas with one main objective. Checkpoint 8.2 is about optimizing resources to maximize challenges.

POUR and UDL are very similar guidelines and can built off each other. I find both very effective in creating accessible, and inclusive materials.

Charlene V Jimoh
4 months ago

The POUR principles are a set of guidelines for creating accessible teaching and learning materials. They stand for:

  • Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be perceivable by users with disabilities. This means that they should be presented in a way that can be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed by users.
  • Operable: User interface components and controls must be operable by users with disabilities. This means that they must be accessible to users who use assistive technologies such as screen readers or keyboards.
  • Understandable: Information and the operation of user interface components must be understandable by users with disabilities. This means that they should be presented in a clear and concise way, and they should use language that is easy to understand.
  • Robust: Content must be robust enough to be compatible with a wide range of user agents, including assistive technologies. This means that it should be able to be rendered and operated correctly by a variety of devices and software.

Students with disabilities will be able to access and use the materials more easily. All students will feel welcome and included in the learning process. All students will be able to learn more effectively from the materials.

Ioana Paunescu
4 months ago

POUR stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. POUR is connected to having an accessible user experience. Each of the POUR accessibility principles support the design for accessible teaching and learning materials in the following ways: 

  • Perceivable content means that it can be accessed by more than one sense. This can be helpful for people with disabilities, as well as those accessing content in environmental conditions that are difficult for learning. Tools like closed captioning for videos can be helpful for people who are deaf, people who are learning a new language, and people who are in a noisy space. In the classroom, teaching can be perceivable by making sure that content is presented in multiple ways (text, translations, audio, visual, videos, pictures, closed captions for videos, changing voice speed on Youtube, etc.). This can fit into UDL’s multiple means of representation. 
  • Operable content means that technology can be operated with different input methods, such as a mouse, keyboard, and verbal commands. It also means that there is easy navigation of content in a digital material (ex: with the use of headings). Some ways that an educator can implement this is by allowing different interfaces, for example allowing students to type, use text-to-speech, record themselves, digitally draw their response etc. This can fit into UDL’s multiple means of action and expression. 
  • Understandable content means that information is presented in a clear and logical way. This is helpful for navigation of digital materials. Definitions are provided for unfamiliar vocabulary or concepts, which is helpful for Multilingual Learners as well as students with disabilities. In the classroom, the use of scaffolds can make content easy to understand. Teachers can provide visual tools such as videos and diagrams, and vocabulary can be explained/previewed. 
  • Robust content means that digital materials can work on many different platforms and devices, such as laptops, ipads, phones etc. It also means that digital materials can work with assistive technology, which can be helpful for accessible teaching.
Alondra Ramirez (She/her)

POUR stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust.
Perceivable- The user must understand the information being presented to them. For example, provide captions and transcript, content should be easier to see and hear.
Operable- The user must be able to interface and can’t require interaction a user can’t use. For example, Making sure the user has enough time to read and do the content, they can easily navigate and determine what they need.
Understandable- The user must be able to understand the information as to how to use the interface. For example, the text must be readable and understandable and the user must be helped.
Robust- Technologies and content should remain accessible. For example, Content must be compatible with other assistive technologies.

Deborah Monforte
4 months ago

POUR stands for perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
Perceivable– it can be accessed by multiple senses, i.e. closed captions for people that have difficulty hearing or in loud environments.
Operable– materials are easy to use, if it is too complex people will likely not want to try to use it and it will not engage them
Understandable– easy to understand and it is communicated clearly
Robust– has to work well with a variety of technology so that way it is able to be accessed by all.

Ernestina Alonzo (She/Her)

The POUR accessibility principles support the designing for accessible teaching and learning materials in the following ways:

(P) Perceivable – This principle insures that the content being taught is accessible to all learners. Example – a lesson should be able to be followed by a mainstream learner as well a learner that has a visual impairment.

(O) Operable – This principle ensures that materials used are very easy to use. The materials should not be complicated to use. That complexity could take away from actual learning.

(U) Understandable – This principle ensures that the content is clear and simple. The best motto to follow in my opinion is: “Keep it simple Sam.”

(R) Robust – This principle ensures that content can be accessed by all agents including assistive technology.

Cristina Vazquez (She/Her)

The POUR principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—help create accessible teaching materials for all learners to encourage inclusivity.

Perceivable

This principle guarantees that information can be accessed in different ways. For example, using audio or text descriptions for images helps visually and auditory impaired students, while captions on videos support those who are hard of hearing. Making content understandable allows everyone to access important information.

Operable

This means that users can easily interact with the materials with ease.This includes providing options for navigation, such as allowing keyboard use for students who can’t use a mouse. Providing interactive elements that are user-friendly helps all students engage with the content. Example: Designing a digital quiz that can be navigated using shortcuts for students who cannot use a mouse.

 Understandable

This principle targets clear communication. Materials should use simple language and be organized logically so students can easily understand them. Clear instructions and consistent terms help everyone, especially those with learning difficulties, grasp the content better. Example: Organizing content with headings and bullet points to help students follow along easily.

Robust

Robust means strong. In this principle materials should work well with different technologies and assistive tools and be long lasting.Creating content that follows established standards ensures it remains accessible across various platforms. This helps all students benefit from new technology and resources. Example: Create lesson plans that work on multiple devices and adhere to web accessibility standards, guaranteeing all students can access the materials.

Last edited 4 months ago by Cristina Vazquez
Angelica Laburda (she/her)

Each of the POUR accessibility principles support the designing for accessible teaching and learning materials.

P: Perceivable: this means it’s presented in a way it can be accessed with more than one sense – this would make things more accessible for people who have differences. For example when you plan a video that has closed captions it makes it more accessible to those deaf and hard of hearing and also benefits others who are watching the content in a loud environment.

O: Operable: makes it more operable with different tools. This is more accessible because it gives learners options with how they engage.

U: Understandable: when things are presented in a logical and predictable way. This makes all the content more streamlined and overall materials stronger.

R: Robust: compatible across platforms.

Every single part of POUR works toward supporting the design for accessible learning!

Pamella Peguero (She/her)

Incorporating the POUR principles into the design of teaching and learning materials ensures that educational content is accessible to all students, regardless of their disabilities. By incorporating the POUR accessibility principles educators can create an inclusive learning environment that accommodates diverse needs and promotes equal access to education.

Perceivable: The information and user interface components must be presented to users in ways they can perceive.

 

·       It ensures that information is available in multiple formats to accommodate students with visual or auditory impairments.

·      It presents clear text and font size. This helps students with visual impairments or dyslexia.

·      Uses headings, lists, and other structure elements in documents to make it easier for screen readers to navigate the content. This benefits students who rely on these technologies.

 

Operable:  User interface components and navigation must be operable.

 

·      It ensures all functions are accessible via keyboard, which is key for students who cannot use a mouse.

·      It ensures that interactive elements, like quizzes or simulations, are operable and don’t require complex interactions. It enhances usage for students with physical disabilities.

 

Understandable: The Information and the use of user interfaces must be understandable.

 

·      It provides clear, concise instructions and explanations for tasks and content. This helps students with cognitive disabilities understand the material.

·      It uses plain language to ensure that content is accessible to students with various levels of language proficiency and cognitive abilities.

·      It provides a consistent and predictable layout which reduces a cognitive load.

 

Robust:  Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

 

·      It ensures that teaching materials work well with screen readers, screen magnifiers, and other assistive technologies is essential for students with disabilities.

·      It regularly tests and validates content for accessibility. This ensures ongoing compatibility and functionality across different devices and platforms.

 

 

 

 

Angelica Laburda (she/her)

thanks for providing so many examples!

Tracey Fuller (Her/She)

Instructional accessibility is the process of intentionally creating educational content that removes the barriers that prevent students from accessing content fully. Accessibility evaluating materials ensures that all individuals with disabilities can access the information. The goal and key to all teaching and learning is to provide accessibility which includes accessible instructional materials (AIM), printed textbooks, braille, and audio recordings so that learners can learn.

POUR an acronym for these guidelines that focus on evaluating accessible and inclusive experiences for all learners, which include those with disabilities. Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust are in relation to learners vision, hearing, motor, and cognitive ability.

Each principal is supported by the other. P the first principal in POUR, is for Perceivable the information should be presented in a way that can be accessed in more than one way. O for Operable and U for understandable. It evaluates whether content was presented in a logical and predictable way with navigation, including explanations and support for language. Robust, compatible across platforms works well with assisted help technologies.

Accessibility ensures that all learners with disabilities can access the information. it can help with all learners.

Kathleen
1 year ago

Perceivable
-alt text
-closed captions
-inage contrast
-large font for those who need it
-special fonts ( dyslexia)
-presented at adequate volu.e and pace

Operable:
– keyboard shortcuts
– screen readers
-predictable menus

Understandable:
-concise language
-visual support
– scaffolds

Robust:
– can work on various devices
– different browsers support it
-can be used on different platforms

Isatou Kebbeh
1 year ago

Perceivable: can be access with more than one senses. For example inclusion of closed captions or transcribes in a video. Good for those that have hearing or vision impairments.
Teachers can use this in classrooms by included closed captions in their classroom videos.

Operable: can be operated through different input methods. For example keyboard, mouse screen readers and speakers.

Understandable: presented in logical and predictable ways. It explains unfamiliar terms. For example google translate. Making the terms more understandable.

Robust: compatibility. Work well with assisted technology. Teachers can see which digital technology works best

Kattie Guerrero-Valoy

The Pour principles:

1.) Perceivable: Takes into account the way a learner takes in new information. For example: If a learner learns new information best through visuals, so it’s important to provide videos with captions to support that learner.

2.) Operable: Takes into account how the learner navigates through content. For example, providing descriptive links, keyboard accessibility, and sufficient time to navigate through a tool.

3.) Understandable: Ensure content is presented clearly and concise to support the learner in understanding the content. For example, use plain language, be consistent with the information.

4.) Robust: Content that works with many web browsers and devices, teachers can ensure this by performing an accessibility check.

Sarah Palomeque
1 year ago

The POUR principles:

  1. Perceivable: Ensures that information and content are presented in a way that can be perceived by all learners. For example, providing captions or transcripts for videos ensures that learners with hearing impairments can access the content. Descriptive alt text for images allows learners with visual impairments to understand the visual elements through screen readers.
  2. Operable: Focuses on designing materials that are easy to navigate and interact with. Providing keyboard accessibility ensures that learners who cannot use a mouse can still navigate and interact with the materials effectively.
  3. Understandable: Aims to make content and instructions clear and comprehensible to all learners. Providing definitions or explanations of key concepts can support learners in understanding the content. Additionally, using consistent formatting, headings, and highlighting can help learners with cognitive disabilities or visual impairments to navigate and comprehend the materials more easily.
  4. Robust: Focuses on creating materials that are compatible with different technologies and assistive devices. Using HTML for content structure and ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers or magnification tools ensures that learners can access and interact with the materials using their preferred assistive devices.

The most important information from the video is for educators to call on developers and publishers to add accessibility at the source so it is built in rather than added on after materials have been built and shipped because it then becomes costly and difficult.

JoEllen (She/Her)
1 year ago

I appreciate your specific examples as you explain these principles.

Jennifer R. (she/her)

It is important for educators to push developers to add accessiblity features when they are creating the tools. It is harder to go back and add them and to “retrofit” them in.

POUR Principles:

Perceivable

Perceivable means that content needs to be accessed by more than one sense so in the classroom a teacher can record a mini-lessons and include the transcript or closed captioning. Students can access this video when they need it and have supports in place.

Operable

For something to be operable, it needs to have multiple inputs such as a mouse, headset, keyboard, and access to speech commands. I have my students choose the devices they want to  use. They can use their ipads or my MacBooks. Depending on the activity, they choose what works best for them. For example, they prefer to complete Scratch projects and Slides on laptops, but prefer the iPads for Blookets and Kahoots. It is quicker for them to select an answer. 

Understandable

Content needs to be logical and predictable and provide an explanation for unfamiliar terms. A teacher could include links to the vocabulary or provide a vocabulary box in the margins to assist students with new vocabulary. They can also create an interactive word wall.

Robust

In order for material to be robust, it needs to be accessible on a variety of devices easily. Screen readers need to be able to move through quickly. I use the labels that are set up to create documents for the students. I used the headings and body. I try to keep the language simple and easy to follow. I also put in alt text for all the images.

JoEllen (She/Her)
1 year ago
Reply to  Jennifer R.

Your explanation does a great job of explaining and giving examples of what it might look like in the real world.

JoEllen (She/Her)
1 year ago

I think the most important part of the video discusses how we as educators should be pushing for creators of digital learning content and tools add accessibility features at part of their development, before the product hits the market.

The POUR principals are:

Perceivable: The content must be written and coded in a manner that assistive technology can support. Features like closed caption, read aloud, descriptions of images, accurately labeled features such as language, subtitles, or including the ability to simplify.

Operable: The site or content must be navigable across devices, have clear subtitles, allow for multiple tools to navigate, open time limits, and eliminating visuals that could trigger seizures like flashing lights.

Understandable: Simple layouts, easy to read text fonts, simplified formatting, avoid slang

Robust: Utilize tools that help check if it is assessable with assistive technology. Any content or websites should maximize all tools to provide a consistent and easy access to all users.

Sarah Palomeque
1 year ago
Reply to  JoEllen

I find your explanation of the principles straightforward with a clear explanation of each.

OBED FULCAR
1 year ago

The POUR accessibility principles support the designing for accessible teaching and learning materials because Perceivable guarantees that materials allow all learners to access content with features such as Closed captions and transcripts for those that are hearing impaired, or can not listen to content due to environmental conditions. Operable principle guarantees that content can be manipulated through different forms of input methods like mouse click or touch tone screens. Learning materials must be Understandable to all learners of different learning styles, as well as Robust, meaning they have to be accessible in many devices.

JoEllen (She/Her)
1 year ago
Reply to  OBED FULCAR

I agree and like how you synthesize the main points of the POUR principle.

Vanessa Polonio (she/her)

Perceivable aligns with multiple means of engagement and multiple means of representation. Creating materials that use more than one sense allows for all students to gain access to the material. For instance, in the video they mentioned adding closed captions to videos allows for more students to understand the video. As a result, the engagement of the students will increase.

Operable aligns with multiple means of action and expression and representation. Letting students use a variety of input methods gives students a chance to show their understanding in more than one way which also increases engagement. Furthermore, they can gain access to the material with the help of different assistive tech like screen readers.

Understandable aligns with multiple means of representation. The fact that the material is logical and predictable lets students gain access because it is easy to follow.

Robust shows how the lessons can work across different platforms and therefore increases accessibility. This aligns with multiple means of engagement and action and expression. The fact that students can use html to help them read the images will help them gain access but also help with engagement since they are able to access the material. Then if we are using tech platforms you have also helped the students to show their understanding in different ways. They can different tech to show their understanding.

In conclusion, POUR and UDL support one another. When you increase accessibility you have also increased the engagement of the student. Engaged learners will lead to success for all.

Christina Salters (She/Her)

Each of the POUR accessibility principles support the designing for accessible teaching and learning materials.  I will explain how each one does it.

P represents perceivable. What a student can see/access using the content.  Students use their senses to access information.  When using devices, they can use 3 out of the 5 senses. The 3 senses are touch, hearing(audio) and sight(visual). Not all students have these abilities, so we need our content to use as many ways to meet their needs. 

O represents operable. Students need to be able to use/operate the device in order to access the content. As teachers, we need to make sure that the students navigate and interact with the content successfully.

U represents understandable. Students need to understand the information in order to complete the task/assignment.  Information needs to be clear and simple.  

R represents robust. Students should have a lot to use in order to interact/engage with the content. When using technology, there are always various ways to get information.  We must provide as much as possible.

In short, POUR is an effective model to make students successful.

Warrick Balfour
1 year ago

When the POUR principles are followed then teachers can create content that is accessible to learners with a wide range of abilities. This will allow everyone to have equal access and benefit from the content that has been created.

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