According to the WHO, about 15 percent of the global population – approximately one billion people – live with some form of disability. Despite this huge number, considerations around accessibility remain an afterthought for many companies around the world. When companies do think about accessibility, especially as it relates to work environments, most focus on the layout and design of physical office space. However, physical space is only one of many considerations that need to be taken into account. Some disabilities, whether they be physical, neurological or mental, are invisible, and yet they are just as important. We may not all be able to grasp what it truly means to live life with a disability. But, at Poly, we are going to try. This year for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re putting a big focus on increasing our internal dialogue around the importance of accessibility awareness within Poly’s corporate culture.

Accessibility Features in Poly Products

At Poly we embrace our potential to foster accessibility inclusion on a global scale by delivering technology solutions that help give everyone an equitable seat at the meeting table. Some of our products integrate features that are helpful to those with accessibility challenges, especially in today’s hybrid work environment. For example, Poly headsets have built-in audio cues like “muted” that let people with vision or neurodiversity challenges know if their microphone is on or off in addition to active noise canceling, which is great for people with sound-related sensory integration issues.

Conference rooms are another area where accessibility is not always considered. Poly conference phones are equipped with auto-answering so those who cannot manually answer a phone don’t have to do so to join a call. Our video conferencing systems also offer a flexible experience thanks to multiple controller options. Instead of a one-kind-fits-all design, the redundancy of controller options allows people to utilize the controls that suit them best. This, coupled with the speaker tracking on most of our new cameras, help create a more equitable conferencing experience for those with disabilities—including blindness, mobility impairments and some cognitive challenges.

In a recent blog titled Poly Innovations Support a More Inclusive Workforce, we highlighted some great anecdotal feedback from our customer Amicus Therapeutics, who deployed a Poly Studio P15 to help an employee whose disability requires him to use a ventilator. The use of Poly’s unique NoiseBlock AI technology to eliminate the background noise from his ventilator gave this team member the confidence to be a much more active participant in team meetings.

An Inclusive Workplace

Poly recognizes its role in creating and upholding an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone feels they belong. Our Global Services team is equipped to communicate and deliver the design, deployment, optimization and support for more accessible global workspaces. While our products, which make workspaces effective, already hit a lot of requirements across the portfolio for accessibility, we are continuously innovating to improve and establish greater consistency across all our products. Return to our blog later this year to read about new products that will have more specific accessibility features designed right in!

Internally, we are fortunate to have passionate people at Poly who are committed to addressing ability bias and improving accessibility standards throughout the business. Just this year, an Accessibility Council was formed and between May 9 and May 13 they led a series of activities designed to raise awareness and cultivate empathy around accessibility. Their work on internal initiatives like this are important as is their collaboration with cross-functional teams, influencing our culture and our products.

Our Inclusion, Diversity, Education and Awareness (IDEA) program leader, Estelle Jackson, hosted an educational webinar on accessibility, covering Poly’s journey and aspirations. The Accessibility Council also hosted lunch and learn sessions, featuring “day in the life” activities that help employees empathize and understand the challenges others face and, most importantly, how to support each other in an inclusive way.

Influencing the Future

As a global technology company, we know we are in a position to make a real difference. By enabling businesses and professionals with accessible audio and video services and solutions, we can make the world of work more equitable. We are proud to be making progress on our accessibility journey and raising awareness around these important issues is a critical step.

If you are going to school this Fall, education will likely look quite different. Although many plans are still in flux, administrators around the world are preparing their students and teachers for “hybrid” or “blended” learning approaches.

Some educational institutions may go back to the classroom, others will remain teaching online 100%, and some are taking a hybrid approach where teachers will have some students in the classroom and some at home.  A hybrid model allows for maximum flexibility but requires the most change management for educators, students, and IT staff, as everyone starts the new school year soon.

In this post, I will share how Poly solutions can help hybrid learning experiences, no matter where class participants are located. Whether you are at home, in the classroom, or hybrid, these are our top tools for helping students stay engaged, feel connected, and remain focused on learning.

POLY STUDIO USB VIDEO BAR

To accommodate a teacher’s natural style, Presenter Tracking on the Poly Studio USB video bar allows teachers to move around the classroom or their home while being seen in stunning 4K clarity. Additionally, this device features simple USB connectivity – so teachers can get their virtual classrooms up and running fast.

POLY BLACKWIRE 8225

If you have two students distance learning in the same room, the Poly Blackwire 8225 is the ideal headset, as it was designed specifically to keep the user distraction-free and in the zone. Our robust Acoustic Fence technology keeps unwanted background noise out of the lesson for both ends of the call, while its simple corded design is easy for all ages to use.

POLY VOYAGER 5200

To help your remote students hear you clearly, use the Poly Voyager 5200. This discrete, portable Bluetooth headset has wind and noise cancellation and a rigorously tested ergonomic design for all-day comfort.

POLY EAGLEEYE MINI

Regardless if you’re the teacher or the student, having high-quality video allows classroom participants to feel like they are in the same room together. The EagleEye Mini is a small USB camera that is easy to use from home or the classroom. This smart little camera packs a punch with high definition 1080p video, electronic pan, tilt, and 4x zoom so everyone can see your expressions.

POLY VIDEO WITH NOISE BLOCKING TECHNOLOGY

During lessons conducted over video, NoiseBlockAI baked into the Poly Studio X family, Studio USB, and G7500 prevents unwanted sounds from getting into the call and ensures your voice transmits clearly.

With many unknowns ahead, the good news is that there are tools that can make your remote education experience seamless and enjoyable for all. If you are an educator and have questions, reach out to our Poly consultants to navigate through scenarios and best practices or, view our education brochure on Poly’s education page for ideas.

Whatever your return to school might look, have some fun with these virtual LEARN-ing reminders:

• Lists are a great way to compile reminders, class agendas, video etiquette, etc. Circulate them ahead of time as points to reference to set expectations with students.
• Engage with your audience. This means look into the camera to create the best impression of “eye contact” with students joining remotely. If you can, stand up and walk around – teach as naturally as possible. Remember, even though you are on camera, you don’t have to be speaking every second of your lesson.  Have natural conversations with your students as if you were in the same room.
• Assist your lesson with video tool extensions such as interactive whiteboards, videos, content sharing, Q&A, chat, polls, and other methods to enhance the online experience. Adapt your techniques to your audience over time.
• Review and repeat instructions to establish new habits and get everyone (students and parents) on the same page for the new normal.
• Nurture participation. Be patient, encourage feedback, and live interaction to engage with all students.

For teachers, students, and parents alike, take a deep breath. With the proper communications tools, the right etiquette, and a little patience you will be ready when the school bell rings and we go back to learning.

Learn more about Poly solutions for education.

Around the world, teachers have moved their classrooms online in an effort to ensure social distancing. As I catch up with my teacher friends, I listen as they tell me about the ways in which they’re needing to adjust to not having a physical classroom or studio. They express their concerns about teaching remotely and we postulate how long this will go on. With each conversation I am amazed by their resilience and dedication to master their remote teaching skills so quickly. Although most have already been thrown in the deep end of distance education, I’d like to share some tips from my 15+ years of remote collaboration experience that will hopefully help teachers leading their virtual classrooms.

Plan Your Lesson

• Plan as if you were in your classroom. Have an objective, format or structure, map out timing, and allocate time for student participation.
• Schedule virtual breaks to allow students to chat, use the bathroom, and share feedback about how this new format is going for them.
• Don’t ditch your regular classroom foundation!

Provide Agenda in Your Lesson Invite

• Send your students a calendar invites for your virtual lesson with the basics: date, time, details and joining instructions.
• State your expectations clearly. If students need to download any lesson materials, access online resources, or complete preparation work prior to the lesson, make sure this is clearly stated with instructions and set deadlines before the lesson.
• Establish video etiquette guidelines. Basic ground rules such as, staying on mute if not speaking, how to ask questions via the live chat or virtual hand raising, and whether or not students are expected to have their video turned on greatly influence the flow to your lessons.
• Don’t fuss over getting every little detail perfect on the first go. Remember that many of us are new to this and you may forget to include somethings. Note these and improve.

Perfecting Your Remote Setup

• Make sure that you have adequate lighting. It’s best to keep light as natural as you can by setting up your workspace near a window or using a lamp in front of your face. If possible, don’t position your desk with windows or lights behind you to avoid Dracula images.
• Decide whether you’ll you be teaching standing or sitting. This will be determined by your teaching style and subject. Then, design your virtual classroom accordingly.
  • If you choose to sit, make sure your camera positioned at eye-level or slightly above. Get a laptop stand or raise your computer to the right height with a stack of books. If you want an even better video experience, checkout Poly’s EagleEye cameras.
  • If standing, put tape on the ground so you know how much you can more around without going offscreen.
• Make sure you have all your class materials nearby, so you don’t have to get up or move offscreen.
• Don’t have anything visible in your background that might be distracting to your students.
• Don’t forget to warn others in your house before you go live so they don’t interrupt by mistake
• Don’t forget to close the door and windows to minimize background noise.

Master Your Technology

• If you can, plug your laptop directly into your ethernet over relying on Wi-Fi. I know it’s old school, but it really is faster and more reliable.
• Do a deep dive into getting to know your meeting technology (aka your VaaS provider). Make use of the plenty online tutorials for how to use platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Using high-quality headset with noise cancellation for the near and far end vastly improves your focus during lessons.
• Make sure you have the contact information for technical support handy if available.
• Download the meeting application ahead of time or have it ready to go in your browser.
• Make the mistake of assuming everything will run smoothly. This new medium requires tools and preparation.

Do Test Calls

• Check privacy settings to allow access for your mic/camera.
• Do test video calls with other teachers to get familiar with distance learning.
  • Check links and invitation permissions.
  • Play with volumes, the audio quality of your headset vs. the mic built into your computer, how to mute yourself or meeting participants.
  • Test advances features like how to administer breakout rooms, screen sharing, sign in/ attendance, and virtual hand raising.
• If your lesson includes props or demonstrations, practice these first to make sure that the far end can see and understand what you are presenting.
• Record your test calls and it playback to see how it looks remotely and tweak as needed.
• Don’t forget there will always be unforeseen variables such as, sunny vs. rainy days affecting lighting or, pets and/or children getting rowdy in the background. Although these things can be unavoidable, you can try to prepare.

Live Virtual Lessons

• Close any applications on your laptop that you’re not using in your lesson. Anything that’s open may be visible when sharing content.
• Get on the call five minutes early. On some platforms, no one can join the meeting until the host has started the call. Starting early also allows for a bit of small talk before the lesson.
• Look at the camera so that you make eye contact with your audience at the far end.
• Teach as if you are in the same room. Chat with the students, explain clearly, repeat if necessary, and run through instructions.
• Encourage interaction to keep students’ attention.
• Allot time for independent work (while still connected) to answer a prompt or practice a technique, just as if you would in the classroom.
• Encourage feedback – ask your students if they have any ideas for improvement.
• End lesson strong. reiterate key takeaways, set expectations for the next meeting, and preview what’s in store for the next lesson.
• Don’t forget to hang up the call! Students can hear and see everything that you do and say until you hang up.

It has been great to see the educators in my network rise to the challenge of remote instruction. We all need to remember that everyone is working in unique and challenging circumstances right now, so it’s especially important to be patient, and help others as they learn to connect and engage online.

Visit Poly.com for more on remote working strategies and solutions.