Thing 5: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are just as important in your online spaces as they are in the office and classroom, and it’s good for all of us! The benefits of diversity are broad; interacting with people from other races, ethnicities, abilities, and cultural backgrounds can enrich us and lead to greater awareness, understanding and acceptance of variety and differences.
Digital technologies and online spaces are used by most of the population every single day and there’s a multitude of variety when it comes to how people use and experience these tools and spaces. It’s important to critically consider how you use digital technologies and spaces to interact with each other and the information offered to you online.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students and has a zero-tolerance stance towards any form of bullying and harassment, whether this is in person or in an online or digital space. The Respect at Edinburgh web hub brings together information and guidance on the University’s Dignity & Respect policy, the processes for raising and addressing concerns, and the support and training available.
How to complete Thing 5
Step 1
Take a moment to think about (and write down in your blog if you have one!) the different digital and online spaces you use to interact with other people. How often are you aware of the various locations, ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, religious beliefs, or abilities of the people you are interacting with in those spaces? Would it change your assumptions about the lived experience of others in those spaces? Would being aware of those differences cause you to pause before using certain words or phrases? Would it change how you might choose to create and share content and information in those space?
Step 2
Choose one of the resources below to watch or work through, and then share your reflections on your blog. Did you learn something new about yourself, others, or how to respond to different types of situations? How does what you have learned apply to participating and interacting in digital and online spaces?
Communicating about Culturally Sensitive Ideas (55min) – Discussions about cultural differences can be uncomfortable. Duke University professor Dr Daisy Lovelace shares principles and strategies that can help you have productive, meaningful conversations on topics related to diversity. LinkedIn Learning on Communicating about Culturally Sensitivity
Confronting Bias: Thriving Across Our Differences (40min) – This video looks at the impact of our cultural lens on daily relations and explores how to counter bias in words and actions. LinkedIn Learning on Confronting Bias
Emotional Intelligence (30min) – This video provides an engaging introduction to the four domains of emotional intelligence; self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Emotional Intelligence can enable us to be more aware of our strengths, limitations, and values. And to increase understanding of how people see the world differently based on individual preferences, as well as social and environmental factors. LinkedIn Learning – Exploring Emotional Intelligence
Become a more thoughtful and effective ally – External open source starter guide to allyship
Thing 6: Accessibility in Online Technologies
Online technology has the potential to be inclusive and accessible to many people when used correctly but it can also present some challenges. Understanding accessibility can empower your own ability to participate and develop your understanding for the equity, inclusion and respect of others as an ethical global and digital citizen.
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology refers to equipment, software, and devices that help to improve access to computers and online spaces and information. Examples of assistive technologies include screen readers, voice recognition and colour masking software, and magnification systems. The University provides access to a wide range of assistive technologies, including software and hardware, through Information Services and the Disability and Learning Support Service.
For example, did you know that the University has installed OpenDyslexic font on all University computers for students? OpenDyslexic is a range of fonts that can help improve readability for users with dyslexia. Regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic fonts are all available.
To access these fonts:
- Open the application you require (Word, PowerPoint etc) and go to the font menu.
- Scroll down the font menu till you see OpenDyselxic and select one of the three fonts; OpenDyselxic, OpenDyselxicAlta and OpenDyslexicMono.
- The font will now be selected to use in the application you have open.
Bring your own device (BYOD)
BYOD is a wireless display option available in some of the Teaching Spaces and meeting rooms at University of Edinburgh. In a room with a BYOD-enabled display, you can wirelessly connect your laptop or mobile device to the room’s display to share presentation, photos, videos or your entire desktop. Any number of users can connect, share and control the content from their laptops or mobile devices.
How to complete Thing 6
Step 1
Read through the collection of selected scenarios of people with disabilities using the Web. These stories highlight the effect of web accessibility barriers and the broader benefits of accessible websites and web tools.
Web Accessibility Initiative – Stories of web users
Step 2
The University of Edinburgh provides a wide range of support and assistive technology, including assistive hardware, assistive software, accessible PCs and accessible study room PCs, Ally an accessibility tool for learning materials in Learn.
Click through to each of the support tool pages above and identify where some of these tools may be useful to the stories of web user scenarios you’ve just read.
Share your thoughts and answers in a post on your blog.
Further Resources
Training and advice are available upon request for students needing help with assistive technology or having trouble accessing University IT resources.
This includes, but is not restricted to:
- Learning to use the specialist software and hardware on the accessible PCs.
- Using assistive software to access central University computing resources, including MyEd, EASE, email, Library website, wikis, and eJournals.
If you are looking to request training, please contact the IS Helpline.
Disability and Learning Support Service can provide students with a wide range of support and guidance.
Getting support from the Disability and Learning Support Service (Students)
Neurodiversity Hub Resources for tertiary students and young adults
University of Edinburgh’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy (2023)
