Education and STEM on the Web

Abstract

Difficulty accessing digital educational material in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) hinders many students from receiving an education according to his/her preferences and fully enjoying the opportunities offered by our technology-enhanced society. Web resources enhance the delivery of STEM content by offering interactive and visual models, dynamic content, videos, quizzes, games and more. STEM content can be delivered in several ways including visually, vocally, or through a 3-D printed Braille bar or other assistive technology. In this chapter, we focus on the accessibility of STEM Web content for students with disabilities who are prevented from fully accessing digital visual resources, precluding a fully inclusive education. This chapter offers an overview of the state of the art of accessibility of STEM content on the Web, focusing especially on the experience of blind students. Existing issues and the authors’ opinions in the field are aimed at motivating future research and development.