Posted: January 15th, 2015

Analysis and Evaluation of Written Texts;

Analysis and Evaluation of Written Texts;

Outcome 1: Reading – Analysis and Evaluation of Written Texts.

Outcome 1: Reading – Analysis and Evaluation of Written Texts.

Please answer the following questions

1.    What sort of information source is this? Give details.

The information source is an article. It has been adopted from the publication Equal Access: Universal Design of Computer Labs.
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/comp.access.html

2.    What is the main purpose(s) of the written communication? To: Inform? Persuade? Entertain? Instruct? Other?

The main purpose of the article is to inform. It informs educational institutions on how to design computer labs to meet the needs of all users, especially the

disabled. The article informs educational institutions that computer labs ought to be accessible to everybody. Disabled students need equal access to laboratory staff,

computers and software, building/facilities, electronic resources, and printed materials and physical space. The article informs educational institutions that

“employing universal design principles when planning services in your facility can facilitate equal access to the computer labs”. It also explains – to educational

institutions – the meaning of universal design in their context of operations.
3.    Who would be the most likely reader? How do you know this?
The facts and figures in this article indicate that the most likely reader of this article would be administrators and planners in educational institutions. This

article is very relevant to them because the design of computer labs is part of the planning that goes on in educational institutions. Administrators and planners are

in charge of the layout of their facilities and determine how buildings will be designed based on availability of funds and institutional needs. The article states

that “universal design means that you design your facility for a broad range of users including students with a wide range of hearing, visual, mobility, and learning

impairments”. Institutional administrators and planners are also in charge of the welfare of all their students, disabled or not, and they are responsible for ensuring

that their time in educational institutions is well spent.
The article is also likely to be read by computer specialists and designers, who are likely to work with educational institutions in the design of computer labs. It

informs them of the developments in the computer field that require their attention, such as increasing disabled students’ access to computer labs and computer-related

services and facilities. This  category of readers must be aware of the latest trends in computer lab design so that they are not left behind by developments. Their

activities should not be hindered by factors like limited access to facilities while their colleagues make full use of facilities.

4.    Summarise the main points of the written communication. IN YOUR OWN WORDS answer the following

Questions:

Before designing a laboratory, what key factors do you need to be aware of?

a)    The people for whom the laboratory is designed. Are they users with disabilities? Do they have special needs that should be catered for?
b)    The number of users of the laboratory. Whether they are students or the general public, how many are they?
c)    The amount of funds available for design and construction.
d)    The purpose of the laboratory. What activities should it/should it not support?
e)    The equipment that will be installed in the laboratory. Apart from computers, what other devices are needed that will determine the layout of the laboratory?

How can you make your building/laboratory accessible?

There should be enough signs and directions to the building to facilitate access to all students. From a central location in the institution, all students should

easily find their way to the laboratory by following directions. There should also be signs and directions inside the laboratory so that students can easily access its

different sections. There should be staff in the lab to act as guides for all students, so that they know where to go and how to get what they are looking for. There

should also be lifts in case the laboratory has many floors so that students can get in and out conveniently. It is also necessary to create special pathways and

sections dedicated to disabled students so that they do not compete with “normal” students in accessing equipment and services. This will allow them maximum access to

the laboratory and they will have their own space to exploit the resources available in the lab.

What are the key things to bear in mind when selecting computers/software?
Performance is the primary factor when selecting software and computers. If they are consistently reliable and deliver high performances then they are worth spending

money on. Another factor is durability. Software and computers should offer service for the period intended at their purchase and should only become unreliable when

their service times expire. However, well-designed software and computers exceed the time set for them to become faulty. Another factor is usability. Whatever software

or computer bought should be convenient for students to use, to improve their productivity. If necessary, a little training is recommended. Students should not find it

very challenging to use software and computers. Finally, whatever software or computer bought should be cost-effective. It does not have to be inexpensive, but it

should provide value for money. Even if it is expensive it should justify its price tag.
What things should you bear in mind when selecting electronic equipment/peripherals?

a)    Performance – should be consistently high for a long time.
b)    Durability – should serve its purpose for as long as possible.
c)    Cost-effectiveness – should justify the price for its purpose.
d)    Usability – students should find them convenient to use especially students with needs.

Finally what should you bear in mind when designing the floor layout/physical space?

The number of students, maneuverability, accessibility, and the equipment that will be housed on the floor should be the primary concerns. Other (minor) factors

include aesthetics, cost, and durability.

5.    In your opinion what are the particular strengths and weaknesses of this piece? What do you like about it and what (if anything) would you do to improve it? Is

there any information that you would find useful for your own project?

This article achieves its objective of informing readers about the topic. Its biggest strength is that it sticks to the subject throughout, not once deviating from its

purpose. Another strength is that its information is relevant to its target audience; it manages to connect with its readers. The  biggest weakness of the article is

that it is not comprehensive enough. While reading it, it feels like there are aspects yet to be discussed. Its  topic is quite broad and the author could have

included more details on the subject, especially to suit first time readers.

Is there any information that you would find useful for your own project?

The team will be using the information contained in this article for the project because it explains a lot about improving computer labs and their accessibility for

different kinds of users and things how to improve accessibility. Thus, the team can use the information on ‘Building Access’, which draws attention to a number of

little things for improving the planning of the room. For example, two of the recommendations are: ‘Provide at least one adjustable workstation/table.’ and ‘Place

printed resources so that a wheelchair user can reach them.’ This information is important and useful for our project and will help us to improve the quality of our

work.

What do you like about it?

“Universal Design” considers the problems of people with disabilities and tries to improve their quality and productivity in educational institutions.

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