UIC’s Landen Dixon a 2024 Anthology Catalyst Award Winner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Learning Accessibility Specialist and LMS System Administrator at UIC Learning Technology Solutions Landen Dixon was honored with a 2024 Catalyst Award for his commitment to creating inclusive learning environments and equitable access for student success.
By integrating Anthology® Ally & Eye-Able with generative AI, the University of Illinois Chicago has enhanced the accessibility of digital course content across both Blackboard® Learn Ultra and Original platforms. This multi-faceted approach ensures that all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, have equitable access to educational resources and materials. The project has witnessed over 74,000 alternative format downloads, fostering accessibility awareness, and benefited over 15,000 unique users across 4,000 courses in the first semester alone. This initiative has not only improved the student experience but has also empowered instructors with tools to create more inclusive and accessible learning environments.
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Winning the Anthology Catalyst Awards in the category of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging feels incredibly rewarding and meaningful. It signifies recognition for the hard work and dedication that our community puts into making education accessible and equitable for our students. To me, this award is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the university’s commitment to these principles
| Learning Accessibility Specialist and LMS System Administrator
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Accessibility and equity in a university setting ensure that all students, regardless of disability or background, can fully participate and succeed in their educational pursuits. By fostering an inclusive learning environment, universities can support diverse perspectives and promote academic achievement for everyone. Prioritizing these values not only enhances the individual student experience but also strengthens the overall academic community.
“Equitable access is critically important to student success. We want our students to be able to participate in our learning environments, whether that be offline or online, regardless of disability status,” Dixon said. “By ensuring our learning environments are accessible and functioning optimally, we help create an inclusive educational environment where all students can succeed,” he said.
At UIC Learning Technology Solutions, a typical day for Dixon involves a mix of routine tasks and on-demand problem-solving. As an LMS administrator, he monitors the performance and utilization of the learning management system to ensure smooth operation. He assists colleagues and faculty members with any technical issues they encounter. Additionally, Dixon ensures that the LMS and its integrations meet accessibility standards by testing new features and applications. His efforts in maintaining and supporting these systems enable faculty to deliver courses effectively, enhancing the overall learning experience for students.
Dixon’s contributions extend beyond our campus. He has presented at various conferences about the need for accessibility in higher education and shared UIC’s progress in this area. These presentations not only spread awareness but also position UIC as a leader in accessibility initiatives.
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Creating accessible learning environments where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed is incredibly fulfilling. Being recognized with this award gives me a great sense of accomplishment and motivates me to keep improving our systems.
| Learning Accessibility Specialist and LMS System Administrator
About the Catalyst Award Heading link
Since 2005, the Anthology Catalyst Awards have honored innovation and excellence in the global community of practice, where millions of educators and learners work every day to redefine what is possible when leveraging technology. Each year, Anthology celebrates the accomplishments of their clients, who are committed to collaborating on best practices and providing exceptional educational experiences for learners around the world.
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“I believe that support for campus accessibility is not solely dependent on digital and physical tools but especially on the dedicated individuals who provide service, develop, and maintain these tools with a commitment to inclusivity,” said Associate Director of Academic Technology and Learning Innovation at Learning Technology Solutions, Szymon Machajewski. “The Eye-Able plugin in our LMS courses exemplifies this by adapting the user experience to meet diverse student needs. Similarly, Anthology Ally plays a crucial role in providing alternative formats of instructional content for students while instructors offer insights into the field of web accessibility,” he said.
“Landen embodies the human element of this support by being readily available to assist, using screen reader software to understand the student experience, and collaborating directly with instructors. He also advocates for students with diverse sensory needs and focuses on sustainable instructor efforts. Moreover, Landen has pioneered the use of Generative AI for accessibility purposes. For example, he demonstrated how to auto-generate objective and immersive image descriptions by uploading images to AI systems, showcasing the potential of this technology in enhancing accessibility. Today, Ally offers this method as a product feature,” Machajewski said.
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Landen’s work not only enhances the student experience but also paves the way for future innovation. This award celebrates our collective efforts at both the departmental and university leadership levels, inspiring us to continue advancing instructional innovation that ensures equitable access to education for all.
| Associate Director of Academic Technology and Learning Innovation at Learning Technology Solutions