[NFBMO] Question Regarding My Educator Platform

Thu Sep 24 17:17:31 UTC 2026

Not only did you respond, but you educated me. Thank you, and best of luck.

Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Roger Crome via NFBMO
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2026 10:45 AM
To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Roger Crome <r_crome1 at msn.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMO] Question Regarding My Educator Platform

Hi Gary,

The resolution that was figured out included a few elements.  First, they split the Objective Assessment into 3 sessions allowing me 5 hours per session.  My Educator provided a script of the questions as they are laid out in the MyEducator window.  Student Disability Services also included a subject matter expert as a secondary participant to the proctored exam.

I finished my third session last night and since it is a multi-session submission, it is graded by a human.  So, now, I  just sit on the edge of my seat and wait for the results.

Honestly, I think they did exceptionally well with a limited time frame, but I do think the platform and the process should be improved.  There are a few places where I am not sure if I will get full credit.  For example, the exam wanted a clustered line chart to evaluate social media trends based on a set criteria within a range of cells.  Establishing the chart is not easy with JAWS but is doable.  Making sure that the axis labeling and the presence of or lack thereof with elements like legends required me to ask targeted questions to the proctor to gain a better understanding.  The exam required the chart to be placed in a specific location on the worksheet.  The shading of the cells to indicate where placement should go didn't match the sizing and shape of the chart.  The shaded area was square and the chart itself produces as a rectangle.  I asked the proctor to assist in looking through the different line chart options and it appears that the typical shape is rectangle.  So, if they are looking for a perfect fit to the shaded area, it will not be the case.

In my opinion, there needs to be a multiple choice objective assessment as an alternative.  I understand the various charts and their importance to the visual representation of information for sighted individuals in business.  However, if I needed a specific visual interpretation developed in a business situation, I wouldn't use the limited functionality of chart development with a screen reader.  I would use the AI tools available with a specific prompting to make sure the output is visually appealing and provides accurate information.  It is possible to then run that iteration through another model or print and use the wealth of tools available to us to confirm that the expected result has been achieved.  So, in my opinion, competence isn't necessarily being able to develop a visually appealing chart on camera within a proctored exam.  It is understanding the concepts and options available.  If the expectation is to gain the performance based competence, then there should be a performance based exam that offers the student the ability to use all tools available.  In order to gain a stronger assessment that includes both performance and objective elements, they could combine it.  Many of the Performance based classes have multiple submissions they call Tasks.  So, it would be possible to have a task 1 and Task 2 that are performance based with specified directions.  The 3rd task could be a proctored objective assessment that demonstrates the students overall comprehension of the material.  I think this would better accomplish the goal of the competence assessment rather than using this tool with limited accessibility.  The My Educator could still be an in course tool to help with the learning process.

I appreciate the question, Gary, and I will let you know if there is something that the Federation should or could be doing to improve this situation for future students.  Hopefully, I passed and it will be behind me.  At that point, it is my intention to pursue a discussion on how the process could be improved going forward for future blind students.

Thanks,
Roger

Roger Crome
Crome Advocacy LLC
1066 Madison 9250
Fredericktown, MO 63645
Phone:  (573)701-8409

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via NFBMO
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2026 9:41 AM
To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List' <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [NFBMO] Question Regarding My Educator Platform

Have you any resolution? Can we help by writing, calling, or threatening to go further?

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Roger Crome via NFBMO
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2026 7:42 PM
To: missouriaffiliateleaders at nfbnet.org; nfbmo at nfbnet.org
Cc: Roger Crome <r_crome1 at msn.com>
Subject: [NFBMO] Question Regarding My Educator Platform

hi all,

I decided to go back and finish my Bachelors degree.  It's been going well so far, but I've run into an issue.  I am attending WGU which is a competency based program.  Basically, this means that you have a Performance Assessment or a Proctored objective Assessment.  These exams are equivalent to taking a final exam.  If you pass the assessment, you get the credits.

I am taking a Fundamentals of Spreadsheet Management which is basically a course on Microsoft Excel.  These   quizzes and the Objective exam are a combination of Performance based and will be proctored.  There is an Excel Add in called My Educator that maintains an open window with instructions on what to do to the provided workbook as well as a series of questions.  There are several issues with this.  First, when I switch to the worksheet to do the task and then switch back, the focus is not saved.  So, if I'm in the middle of the exam, I may switch back and be at the beginning or the end or somewhere in between.  It's really strange.  A second issue is that with the question part of the test, it is a multiple choice but there is no indication that the selection was made regardless of what JAWS cursor I'm using.

I thought that I might have the proctor do a reader scribe for the My Educator Popup, but I tried this with sighted assistance, and if they can see the My Educator, I cannot focus in the worksheet, and if I'm in the worksheet, the sighted person cannot see the popup to read the next instruction.

I'm wondering if any of the students or former students on here have taken an Excel course using the My Educator platform and how you worked with it.  I'm sure there is a trick.  I just haven't figured it out.The last time I was in school was over 20 years ago and we didn't have these kinds of tools.

Any ideas or experiences will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Roger
Sent from my iPhone
_______________________________________________
NFBMO mailing list
NFBMO at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBMO:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/gwunder%40earthlink.net

_______________________________________________
NFBMO mailing list
NFBMO at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBMO:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/r_crome1%40msn.com

_______________________________________________
NFBMO mailing list
NFBMO at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBMO:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/gwunder%40earthlink.net