Video 8: Provide options for physical action
Physical action deals with how learners interact with the information they are learning and any specific methods or assistive technology tools they may use to respond to and navigate the learning environment. Since learners have a variety of needs, giving students choice about how they want to physically express their knowledge gives them an opportunity to leverage their strengths and minimizes potential barriers to their participation. Learners in the CS classroom need to be provided with accessible materials with which they can interact.
Strategies for providing options for physical access:
- Incorporate unplugged activities and robotics that show physical relationships of abstract, computer-based concepts.
- Provide opportunities for students to interact with assistive technologies such as customized overlays for touch screens and keyboards or choosing software that works seamlessly with keyboard alternatives.
- Select computational software that allows for navigation with keyboard shortcuts in addition to dragging and dropping with a mouse.
Programming involves some amount of physical activity in terms of interaction with a computer and a coding environment or editor; giving students choices allows them to customize for their needs and preferences.
Resources related to this guideline include:
- Location of physical action on CAST’s graphic organizer
- CAST: Physical Action
- UDL for Teachers: Physical action
Note: We use CAST’s (2018) Version 2.2 of the Guidelines. The CAST link is similarly numbered. UDL for Teachers uses a previous version of the guidelines, so numbering and terms may vary.