Alex, the confidence-building AT Officer

Alex Barker is the Assistive Technology Officer at Aston University. With years of experience in the field, Alex’s mission is to ensure that every student, regardless of their learning profile, has the tools they need to succeed in the high-pressure environment of higher education.

The challenge: Supporting student transitions to higher education

The leap from college to university is more than just a change of scenery, it’s a massive shift in academic expectations. Alex works with a diverse student body, including those with a registered disability like dyslexia, anxiety and ADHD.

For many of these students, the traditional lecture format can be overwhelming. Alex noted a common trend: a lack of confidence leads to poor attendance. When students don’t feel they can keep up with the pace of the lecture, they stop showing up.

How Genio simplifies note taking and academic organization

Alex identifies Genio as the "all-in-one" solution that simplifies the academic experience. Rather than juggling multiple tools, students use Genio as a central hub to manage their learning.

"Genio is just one package that can make studying easier," Alex explains. By allowing students to make notes and interact with materials in real-time as the lecture progresses, the "fear of the blank page" is removed.

The impact: Improving student attendance and academic confidence

Since introducing Genio, Alex has seen a shift in how students approach their studies:

• Increased engagement: Students are no longer passive listeners; they are active participants because the note taking process is streamlined.
• Boosted confidence: By having a tool that helps them "make sense" of what they are learning, students feel more capable of attending lectures.
• Better learning outcomes: Genio helps bridge the gap between hearing information and actually understanding it.
  
  

"I'd like to see more people using Genio because it just helps students so much. It helps you actually make more sense of what you’re learning."

Watch the video to hear more about Alex's experience with Genio: