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Educator Resources

TEACH Educator Resources provides curated tools, guides, and teaching supports for medical educators across the continuum. Whether you are preparing a presentation, teaching online, improving accessibility, developing scholarship, or engaging learners virtually, these resources are designed to support practical and effective teaching.

  • Considering Generative AI at Virginia Tech
    • This link offers guidance from Virginia Tech's Teaching and Learning Office, highlighting a balanced approach on generative AI.
  • ChatGPT
    • Use to create an outline of your presentation.
    • Use to help create Learning Objectives for your presentation.
    • Facilitate brainstorming on topics.
    • Create polling questions to engage audience.
  • Gamma
    • Slideshow creation tool to create slides with ease using uploads or prompt.
    • Video Tutorial
  • Grabstract
    • Assistance in poster creation.            

Why Accessibility Matters

Accessibility helps ensure that all users can fully access and engage with digital content, educational materials, events, and communications. Accessibility is not only a legal requirement — it also supports a more inclusive and usable experience for everyone.
Below are steps you can take to reduce barriers and improve learning experiences through quick shifts in your approach.

Idea 1: Use Built-In Heading Styles and Accessibility Checkers

When writing in Word or Google Docs, use the built-in Heading 1, Heading 2 styles instead of just bolding or enlarging text. This creates a logical structure that screen readers use for navigation. Similarly, when building PowerPoint presentations or emailing content, use the Accessibility Checker (under the "Review" tab in the Microsoft Ribbon) to catch and fix common issues.

Idea 2: Communicate Accessibly in Emails and Flyers

Event flyers or important announcements should never be image-only. Include a plain-text version of all key information in the body of the email. Use meaningful link text (e.g., "Register for the faculty session" instead of "Click here"). Avoid using color as the only cue for emphasis and maintain high color contrast to ensure readability.

Idea 3: Caption Your Videos and Use Descriptive Alt Text

If you share recordings—whether lectures, short tutorials, or Zoom sessions—be sure they are captioned. Platforms like Panopto, Zoom, and YouTube offer automatic captioning tools that can be reviewed and edited for accuracy. Likewise, when using images, add captions to describe what the image conveys, especially in teaching materials and emails.

Learn More

                This content was created by 
                Vianne Greek, MBA, CPWA | Director of Digital Initiatives for Medical Education, VTCSOM
                S.B. Chandler, PhD | 508 Compliance and Digital Accessibility Officer, Virginia Tech

Accessibility Areas to Consider

Accessibility applies to many types of content and communication, including:

  • Websites
  • Canvas pages and course materials
  • Word documents
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • PDF files
  • Emails and electronic communication
  • Social media
  • Event registration systems and virtual platforms

Quick Accessibility Best Practices

Save Documents Properly
Always use “Save as PDF” instead of “Print to PDF.”
Saving as PDF preserves accessibility tags and document structure needed for screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Use Built-In Formatting Tools

In Word:

  • Use heading styles to organize content
  • Set table header rows for accessible navigation

In PowerPoint:

  • Ensure every slide has a title
  • Use built-in slide layouts whenever possible

Avoid Text-Only Screenshots
Screen readers cannot interpret text embedded in images or screenshots.
Whenever possible:

  • Use editable text
  • Recreate tables or graphics directly in the document
  • Use SmartArt or accessible visual tools

Improve Color Contrast
Ensure text is easy to read against backgrounds.
Best practices include:

  • Using dark text on light backgrounds (or vice versa)
  • Avoiding low-contrast color combinations
  • Adding overlays or highlights behind text placed on images

Inclusive Event Accessibility

Accessible events should consider:
Physical Access

  • Accessible pathways and seating
  • Clear signage and navigation
  • Fragrance-free considerations
  • Advance notice of flashing lights or visual effects

Information Access

  • Captions and transcripts
  • Accessible registration systems
  • Clear event communication
  • Accessible virtual platforms and technology

Planning & Logistics

  • Include accessibility in event planning and budgeting
  • Identify a point person for accessibility support
  • Test accessibility features before the event
  • Communicate how attendees can request accommodations

Grant Opportunities

Find resources to assist you in developing and delivering an engaging and memorable presentation. Even if you are a seasoned speaker, we think you will find it beneficial to take a few moments to review the contents of this page.

  • Short, simple, and vetted how-to guides, videos, and links to helpful online teaching resources.
  • Micro-learning Teaching Technology Sessions: Get “connected” to the latest trends for technology in the classroom.
  • Scholarship Resources: Multiple suggested articles on education research and scholarship resources.
Speaker Resources
Presenter Zoom Instructions

Infuse low stakes assessments and gather on-the-fly feedback from learners

Make your content available to your learners

  • Defining Faculty Vitae, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Affinity Group on Faculty Affairs: Articles on academic career development, negotiation, mentoring, diversity, leadership and teams, and recruitment and retention.
  • Resources for Educators by The Academic Pediatric Association: Templates, analysis tool, and guidelines for developing educational portfolios and reporting ED scholarship, plus modules on scientific writing and peer review.
  • AM Rounds Podcast. Ask the Editors: Practical Guidance for Designing and Reporting Qualitative Research. 2023 May 15. American Medicine. [podcast | transcript]
  • Medical Education Scholarship, Research and Evaluation (MESRE) Annotated Bibliography [pdf], AAMC-Regional Groups on Education Affairs, MESRE Section, compiled by Andrea Berry et al., updated November 2024. 
  • (Create a Login to View) Resources for Clinicians Becoming Clinical Educators by Gail M. Sullivan, MD, MPH. In J Grad Med Educ. 2015 Jun; 7(2): 153-5. DOI: 10.4300/JGME-D-15-00098.
  • DR MERL DR MERL stands for Dependable Reviews of Medical Education Research Literature. As the name implies, DR MERL is a collection of reviews of the latest research in medical education. Academic Medicine, Medical Education and Teaching and Learning In Medical Education are a few of the medical education journals regularly scanned by our reviewers to find interesting and relevant research articles. Physicians and medical school educators (from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and other medical schools) then write short 150-200 word reviews. The goal of DR MERL is to disseminate succinct reviews of medical education research to our teaching faculty to keep them up-to-date on the most important medical education research. DR MERL has over 150 reviews and covers both undergraduate and graduate medical education topics, such as evaluations, feedback, OSCEs, etc. DR MERL has a broad readership in the United States and internationally. DR MERL is endorsed by the Northeast Group on Educational Affairs (NEGEA) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Efficiently communicate with your learners