Microsoft Accessibility Features Demo for Improved Remote Teaching and Learning

BY: .

UKZN’s School of Management, Information Technology and Governance in partnership with Microsoft South Africa hosted a virtual Microsoft accessibility features demo to assist students and academics with distance learning, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The demo was facilitated by Mr Mohamed Sahib, Classroom Success Manager at Microsoft in Education. Sahib has eight years’ experience as a former Information and Communication Technology educator and said that, in his new role his passion has found its purpose in driving digital transformation in education.

Sahib demonstrated how Microsoft’s accessibility tools are used to meet the needs of diverse students in order to empower them with an inclusive classroom while improving remote teaching and learning.

The live demo showed how these tools work, including the dictate feature where Microsoft is able to pick up when one speaks. ‘Students can use this feature in class to record online lectures and have accurate dictation to go back to after class,’ said Sahib.

Lecturer Dr Upasana Singh, who hosted the presentation said it was inspired by the need to assist students with learning disabilities by exposing them to features available in the applications they use which could support their learning in an online environment.

‘My expectations were exceeded as the numerous exciting features and tools would not only benefit students with learning disabilities, but help us as academics, to engage students better in the online environment, as well as improve our efficiency,’ said Singh.

Words: Lungile Ngubelanga

Photograph: Supplied