Examining the Accessibility of Online Educational Content: A Case Study of Second-Language Learning Videos

The digital age has transformed the ways we approach education, customizing learning experiences to cater to student preferences. However, this transition often neglects the needs of many learners, making both physical and online classrooms not fully accessible. Although experienced organizations have shared instructions on how to create accessible educational content and how to design inclusive learning platforms, when it comes to how this is put into practice, much remains to be done. This case study assesses the accessibility of online educational content, with a specific focus on second-language learning videos, specifically on those aimed at adult non-native Catalan learners and created by the Catalan Government. The study investigates two series: “Ep! Escolta i Parla” (‘Hey! Listen and Learn’) and “Màgia per conversar” (‘Magic to Conversation’). Five videos from each series were chosen for evaluation, culminating in around 20 min of analyzed material. The evaluation criteria encompass audio description, subtitles, subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, language clarity, and speech rate. Our study successfully highlighted the aspects that make educational videos accessible or not accessible, and the fact is that there is a long way to go in terms of inclusive and public educational resources.