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Linda Leonie Jewell Post 1

• 19 February 2025, 8:43 AM

Technical equipment malfunction

I have been excluded from participating fully in on line training because the microphone in my work laptop does not work. This is a manufacturing fault that was not detected prior to Covid because there was no necessity to use it. The computer is now out of warranty (bought in 2016!)

I have tried to address this by buying a physical microphone that can be plugged in via the audio jack or usb. These are quite freely obtainable since Covid. They tend to work well for a while and then start to malfunction. This is in part due to unplugging and wrapping the cable up when I pack up my laptop. The cable will break and the device stops working.

Another workaround is to join the MSTeams training using two different devices. I mute my laptop and use my mobile phone speakers and microphone. I use the screen on my laptop to read the slides (too small to view properly on my mobile phone).

When I am teaching an on-line class joining the class on two devices has the advantage that I can see when students raise their hands on my mobile phone, while presenting slides on my laptop. However this is not ideal, it can take a extra minutes to join the meeting. Even if I allow for this, sometimes an unstable internet connection prevents me from joining the second device in good time.

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Kellieanne McMillan Post 2 in reply to 1

• 21 February 2025, 3:36 PM • Edited by the author on 21 February 2025, 3:38 PM

Yes, I can relate to this type of exclusion too. 

In my case, it was my whole laptop that failed.  It broke during a period of time that I was expected to complete an assignment for my BSc Hons course at Open University.  I usually used the laptop with the trackpad so I had no laptop and no mouse.  I was forced to use an old desktop computer with no mouse that had very few up-to-date drivers on it.  It was next to impossible to use without it being very slow, and the mouse fell apart while I was using it! I had no alternative at the time, and no way to improve my situation, so it became quite stressful. I had to wait until my financial situation improved to afford new equipment before I could continue. 

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Celine Woodthorpe Post 3 in reply to 2

• 22 February 2025, 6:21 PM

Relate to technical difficulty

As a neurodiverse student I find using a new learning platform hard to adjust to. So when it comes to online learning, I have to spend a long time navigating through the system, getting familiar with where information is stored, how processes work to enable me to effectively and fluidly navigate the programme or learning platform. 

This in itself is time consuming and them makes me feel like I am left behind from the cohort, as I am still learning the basics of navigating the system, before I can start the learning process. 

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Melanie Holmes Post 4 in reply to 3

• 24 February 2025, 5:35 PM

I have been excluded as there were no closed captions available and I could not tell what was being said. I wear hearing aids, and find the text supports my understanding, and sometimes there are background noises or the way people talk means I need this available.


Increasingly is becoming available, which is a real help.