In the 1980s it was personal computers.

In the 1990s, it was the Internet.

In the 2000s, it was social networking.

Now it’s mobile devices.

You see one in most every student’s hand as if it’s a permanent tattoo…and, most likely, it is.

Smartphones and tablets are experiencing market adoption rates far greater than those we saw with the killer tech of the past three decades. College students don’t just hope their schools will incorporate mobile learning into their education…they expect it.

The debate over the value of online learning has been going on for a while now – and has featured speculation from many critics who assume that there is no way that online education can fulfill the educational needs of today’s students, and vocal support from many who tout the importance of online learning platforms for education today. While there may be a few conversational tactics to address the doubters – the supporters of online education are getting a boost from a study released over the summer.

As many of you know, ever since I started working at Blackboard Collaborate (then Elluminate), accessibility has been one my most important priorities when it comes to designing our collaboration software for education.  From the old Elluminate slogan of ‘No user left behind,’ to leading accessibility forums throughout North America, I’ve felt that it’s not only our legal obligation to make accessible software, but it’s also, simply, the right thing do.  With so much of the educational experience happening online – in virtual classrooms, through collaboration, formal meetings and informal get-togethers – it was especially important for those of us involved to develop software that enables online education and make sure that our products work for everybody. After all, every person, regardless of (dis)ability, is entitled to equal access to an education.