1. Using mobile video conferencing in the classroom:
Claire Raistrick – .
Using mobile video conferencing in the classroom:
Collapsing barriers for students with disabilities . .
Using mobile video conferencing in the classroom: Collapsing barriers for students with disabilities Claire Raistrick (Warwick Medical School)
This case study is a story of how a new innovation succeeded. It shows a ‘can do’ approach to breaking down barriers to learning for a student with a disability who is no longer able to study on campus. In this presentation we explain both the why and the how relating to this university pilot of mobile videoconferencing technology. The university’s responsibility to learners under the Equality Act will be highlighted. Furthermore, the preliminary discussions, the planning, the pilot study, the changes we made, the preparation on the day of use and finally our experience of using this technology will be revealed. Importantly, the mobile videoconferencing technology will be demonstrated to provide a clear understanding of what is involved. The highlights and pitfalls of using this technology in the real-world of the classroom will be shared, alongside the attitudes of key players: the off-campus learner, the on-campus learners, the educators, and audiovisual services. Finally, consideration will be given to alternative uses of this technology in the contexts of those attending the presentation.
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2. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
By U.S. Federal government [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The challenge
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3. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Student
Disability services
Teachers
Audio visual services
Other students
The way forward
University
Employer/Partner
Stakeholders
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4. Dialogue to generate ideas
Claire Raistrick –
By Selena Wilke (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Dialogue to generate ideas
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5. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Disability is one of the protected characteristics associated with equality legislation:
A person with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial & long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Post-16 learners/students with a disability have access rights & it is unlawful to discriminate against this group in:
Admissions
Teaching & learning & other student services
Exclusion from the course or institution
The Equality Act, 2010
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6. Reasonable adjustments
Claire Raistrick –
To ‘discriminate’ means:
Unjustified less favourable treatment for a reason related to a person’s disability 
Unjustified failure to take reasonable steps (aka reasonable adjustments):
To prevent a disabled person from being placed at a substantial disadvantage
The duty to make reasonable adjustments includes a duty to provide auxiliary aids and services and a duty to remove or alter a physical feature.
‘Reasonable’ relates to: cost, others’ interests, health & safety factors, maintenance of academic standards, etc.
Reasonable adjustments
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7. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Trial
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8. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Trial
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9. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Technology: Screen with camera; codec; computer port
Video link connection: AVS control remotely
Room layout: U-shape; viewing angle; wires
Remote participant: In remote VC suite; life-size image; mutes own microphone unless speaking; laptop shows teaching screen
Other students: Inform in advance; explain set-up
Group work: Table; those in view; other students in syndicate rooms
Teacher: Involve all equally*; voice strain - microphone
Brief teaching colleagues: Handout/photos
* Unless there is a reason to act differently, e.g. related to the remote learner’s disability
Key points 9
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10. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Going live
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11. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Student 1: “Group work went really well, wasn’t really any different to a normal group work situation, just had to make ourselves aware not to all talk amongst ourselves and make sure [name of student] was included.”
Student 3: “Sitting by the videolink means you hear more clearly the papers rustling etc on the videolink until it was muted.”
Student 4: “Some discussion whether [name of student] should have been positioned so everyone could see + so her camera enabled her to see everyone in the room – I thought she should still be “sat” next to us rather than up on the wall etc. It felt like she was part of the group being positioned around the table with everyone else.”
Learner feedback (1, 3, 4)
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12. Learner feedback (9, 10, 13 & RS)
Claire Raistrick –
Student 9: “No problems with the webcam in room. Wonder if student in [location] felt isolated still.”
Student 10: “Video conferencing was novel and good, but it felt a little awkward in its implementation.”
Student 13: “Videocon worked. There was little disruption to the course. I would be happy to use it if I didn’t/couldn’t attend the course.”
Remote student: Extremely grateful for all the effort we went to - it gave an excellent learning experience which meant the course could be completed.
Learner feedback (9, 10, 13 & RS)
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13. Implementation: Plan – Trial – Feedback
Claire Raistrick –
By Leena (Own work) [GFDL ( or CC-BY-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Implementation: Plan – Trial – Feedback
Involve
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14. Worth the effort – Improve further!
Claire Raistrick –
“ … proved to be extremely straightforward and was a great success. My fear that it would be too difficult to focus on teaching and to interact with those in the classroom and someone via technology at the same time was unfounded.”
Claire Raistrick, Module leader
Further improvement:
Remote participant able to control camera
Worth the effort – Improve further!
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15. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Useful links
Audio visual services: Danielle Miles
(22365)
Video conferencing case studies:
Video conferencing options:
Disability services team:
Thank you!
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16. Claire Raistrick – c.g.raistrick@warwick.ac.uk
Useful links
Audio visual services: Danielle Miles
(22365)
Video conferencing case studies:
Video conferencing options:
Disability services team:
Thank you!
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