Center for Teaching and Learning Blog

Month: December 2025

A Brief Look at the Accessible Tech Challenge

Published
By
The Accessible Tech Logo

As we return to Michigan Tech for the Spring semester, the Center for Teaching and Learning would like to invite you to our newest program: The Accessible Tech Challenge.

The CTL has been focusing recently on ways to increase accessibility in online courses to ensure that every Husky has the best opportunity possible as they take on new courses. In addition, upcoming changes to the ADA Title II web accessibility rule are making accessibility in online instruction more important than ever before. To help you navigate the challenges of online accessibility and create a community of practice around overcoming these challenges, the CTL has created the Accessible Tech Challenge.

The challenge, simply put, is to get the Ally score of one of your classes above 85% before April 13th, 2026. It can be any course shell, if it is active in the Spring 2026 semester. And what is a challenge without a reward? If you meet that 85% threshold for your course, then you win a Yeti travel mug, branded with the official Accessible Tech Challenge logo. Plus bragging rights, and the satisfaction of knowing that your course is better prepared for all of our students.

From January 15th, through April 1st, we will be hosting a series of events to support you in this challenge. Every 2 weeks we will cover a topic to help you, using our “5+2” roadmap to accessibility. This gives you 2 weeks to address each of these issues at your own pace, and on your own schedule, improving your accessibility without an overwhelming sprint. Please note that attendance to these sessions is not mandatory for participation or winning. All you have to do is sign up and put in the work. These sessions are here to let you share tips with other faculty members, get support from your accessibility experts in the CTL, and to provide a scheduled time to focus on the objectives.

The event schedule is as follows:

  • January 15: Kickoff Lunch and Learn (how to tidy up course shells to improve Ally score, how to view your Ally Accessibility Report, and an introduction to the Challenge).
  • January 28: Headings Working Session
  • February 10: Image Descriptions Working Session
  • February 25: Tables Working Session
  • March 17: Lists and Links Working Session
  • April 1: Color Working Session
  • April 17: CTL Open House (prize handout and come meet with CTL members about your course while you grab a snack!)

You can use our sign-up form to apply for the challenge, and register for the Lunch and Learn via LibCal. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions about the challenge, please reach out to the CTL.

Continue Reading →

CTL Accessible Tech Challenge: Working Sessions

Published
By

Join us for an Accessible Tech Challenge Working Session, a practical, hands-on opportunity to strengthen the accessibility of your digital course materials. Each session focuses on one key skill area, explains why it matters for students, and gives you dedicated time to work on your own content and get real-time guidance from campus digital accessibility experts.

For All Sessions:

Where: Library Room 243

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CTL staff will be available from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to continue working with individual attendees)

Accommodation requests can be made on the registration screen, by emailing ctl@mtu.edu, or by calling (906) 487-3000.

Topic for January 28th:  Headings

Clear, consistent headings help students understand the structure of your content and make navigation more efficient for assistive technology users. In this session, you’ll learn how to apply proper heading levels in Canvas and document editors to create materials that are easier to navigate and more usable for all learners.  
Register today to reserve your spot https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15778874 and bring your laptop to work on content you’d like to improve.

Topic for February 10th:  Image Descriptions

Alternative text provides essential access for students who need help interpreting the meaning of course images due to a disability or technical limitation.  This session guides you through writing effective descriptions for photos, charts, diagrams, and other course visuals, with examples and tips for different image types.  
Register today to reserve your spot https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15778925 and bring your laptop to work on content you’d like to improve.

Topic for February 25th:  Tables

Well-structured tables help students grasp relationships in your content and ensure that assistive technology can interpret the information accurately. In this session you’ll learn how to create accessible tables by adding captions, headers, and scope attributes that support learning for all your students.  
Register today to reserve your spot https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15778946 and bring your laptop to work on content you’d like to improve.

Topic for March 17th:  Color

Color choice directly affects readability, contrast, and the ability of all students—including those with low vision or color vision deficiency—to interpret course materials. This session will cover how to choose accessible colors, avoid color-only meaning cues, and use free software tools to ensure accessibility and usability. Register today to reserve your spot https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15837615 and bring your laptop to work on content you’d like to improve.

Topic for April 1st:  Lists and Links

Properly structured lists and descriptive hyperlinks make your content easier to navigate and understand, especially for students using assistive technology. In this session, you’ll explore how to create semantic lists and write descriptive link text that effectively communicates destination and intent. 

Register today to reserve your spot https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15778956 and bring your laptop to work on content you’d like to improve.

Continue Reading →

CTL Accessible Tech Challenge Kick-Off Lunch & Learn

Published
By

When: January 15, 12:00-1:00

Where: MUB

Join the CTL’s accessibility team as we launch the Spring 2026 Accessible Tech Challenge—a supportive and friendly competition designed to help instructors improve the accessibility and usability of their course materials.

This kick-off luncheon will introduce the challenge structure, outline the accessibility target for participants, and share strategies to help you make steady progress throughout the semester. We’ll also demonstrate how to use Canvas tools to locate outdated or unused content and review the Ally accessibility report to help you identify, prioritize, and address accessibility issues efficiently.

To support continued momentum, we’ll be hosting bi-weekly working sessions throughout the semester, each focused on a specific accessibility topic such as headings, image descriptions, tables, color contrast, and links and lists. These sessions will offer hands-on help so you can work directly on your own course materials with guidance from the CTL team.

All instructors who reach the challenge’s accessibility target will receive a nice prize as a thank-you for helping ensure students can access course materials in ways that work for them.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining existing content, the Accessible Tech Challenge provides community, accountability, and practical tools to help you make meaningful progress.

Register at: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15572338Accommodation requests can be made on the registration screen, by emailing ctl@mtu.edu, or by calling (906) 487-3000.

Continue Reading →