Hello! My name is Oyinlola Osinoiki. I recently finished my 8 week internship with the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) as a 'Digital Accessibility Designer'. In this blog I will be sharing details about the project I worked on and reflections about the internship overall.
Aim of my Internship and Project
My internship was within the Technology Enhanced Learning Team of the CLT. The aim of my internship project was to create resources for university staff to learn more about digital accessibility.
To begin my project, I explored the University's existing resources to find out what resources were already available to staff and gain ideas about what resources I could create.
After conducting research into the University of Bath resources, I decided to do additional competitor research and explore what resources other universities had about digital accessibility.
All my research led to me deciding to develop a series of articles to go on the Learning and Teaching Hub, focusing on Accessible Presentations, Lectures, and PDFs. The aim was to provide bite-sized, practical guidance for educators to make their materials more inclusive.
Along with creating resources, I wanted to make a difference. Digital accessibility is important, and I wanted to help ensure staff were informed about it. When I noticed that the CLT LinkedIn page was inactive, I took the initiative to plan a campaign to increase its visibility. My goal was to use the LinkedIn page to promote CLT's resources and opportunities while also creating a space for sharing information about accessibility.
Working on the Project
While working on the project, I spent a lot of time in Wessex House. I furthered my professional development through the training on topics such as cyber security and fire safety in the workplace.
During the project, I learnt how to use H5P, which is an e-learning tool used to create web-based learning experiences. Additionally, I learnt more about how to use Moodle and WordPress as well as useful features in Teams and Outlook. I was able to complete the goal of my project to create articles! If you would like to explore these, the link to each article is listed below.
Converting Word Documents into Accessible PDFs
Planning and delivering accessible lectures
Designing Accessible Slideshows
Checklist for an accessible PowerPoint
Checklist for an Accessible PDF
Working on the CLT LinkedIn Company Page was a rewarding project. Watching the pages following increase from 4 followers to over 40 followers was great. I learnt about new features that are specific to LinkedIn Company pages and experimented with different formats of content such as LinkedIn Carousels.
Getting to know the Team and other Insight Interns
Alongside work, I had several opportunities to network and socialise over the summer.
One highlight was a day trip to Weymouth with the CLT Team. On this trip I had a chance to get to know the wider CLT team and enjoy the British coast.
Connecting with the wider team was a priority for me as an intern. I had several 'informational interviews' with the CLT Team. These 'interviews' are essentially an informal question and answer session where I asked staff about their career journeys, current role, and any advice they wished to share with me. These conversations were very insightful and valuable for me.
Aside from work colleagues, I had lots of fun socialising with the other Bath insights interns. Every Wednesday there was an intern social organised by the University of Bath's Insights Internship Team. These socials gave everyone a lunch break from work and a chance to get to know each other more.
Final reflections
Overall, this internship was a valuable experience. I gained new skills, made connections, and learned a lot. If you're a student, I'd recommend applying for the Bath Insights Internship program. it's a great opportunity to expand your network, pick up new skills over the summer, and prepare for the future. And if you do land an internship, make the most of it - reach out to your team, learn from their experiences, and let their stories inspire you.
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