Enabling Access - Identifying enabling technology for disabled learners

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Enabling Access -Identifying enabling
technology for disabled learners
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Aim of this session

• To consider different approaches to identifying
  individual requirements for enabling technology.

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Objectives

• By the end of the session you will have
• identified how to take a whole organisation
  approach to recognising learners requirements
  for enabling technologies.
• considered how course design and pedagogies can
  create barriers to learning for disabled people.
• Created your own enabling technology action plan.

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Examples of enabling technologies
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What would you like to gain from this session?

• Discuss this in your group

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What is enabling technology in a learning
context?

• Hardware and/or software that help eliminate
  barriers experienced by some people in learning
  and training situations. Techdis website
• It may be specialist hardware equipment or
  software, or
• Mainstream technology and equipment employed or
  adapted to break down a barrier to learning.
  (case study A)
• (Techdis online)

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Why is enabling technology important? 1

• It can
• make learning inclusive and accessible. (case
  study B)
• help learners who experience barriers with
  mainstream technology to use it in a more
  equitable way. (case study C)

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Why is enabling technology important? 2

• It can
• widen the curriculum opportunities to those who
  have previously been excluded. (case study B)
• promote more independent learning. (case study D)
• create more engaging learning experiences for all
  learners.

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Barriers to Learning - 1

• A barrier to learning may be
• Physical
• - inaccessible buildings or equipment
• - teaching and learning
  activities that exclude some learners
• Psychological
• - attitudes of staff and other learners
  that make individuals feel
  excluded

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Barriers to Learning - 2

• Policy
• - rigid regulations result in some
  learners being prevented from participating
  (e.g. all learners must stand in the science
  lab)
• Knowledge and skills
• - lack of understanding and awareness
  about accessibility and adjustments

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Understand Barriers to Learning
Activity 1

• Take part in the activity
• card game
• Spot the barrier and dismantle it!

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A whole course approach to identifying enabling
technology requirements 1

• Course design and planning
• - Factor all learners into your planning
• Marketing
• - Tell potential students about enabling
  technology and adjustments
• Lesson Planning
• - Consider the accessibility of your
  activities
• Enrolment
• - Create opportunities for potential
  learners to tell you what they need

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A whole course approach to identifying enabling
technology requirements 2

• Initial assessment
• - Ask all learners about what they find
  difficult about learning and what helps
• Session Delivery
• - Observe learners learning, identify where and
  when they may require support (case study C)
• - Show all learners the accessibility
  options (case study B)

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Identifying enabling technology requirements
Part A

• Take part in the activity
• Creating opportunities for learners to discuss
  their access and enabling technology requirements
• This activity will give you an opportunity to
  analyse the opportunities you offer learners on
  your course from the planning to evaluation
  stages.

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Enabling Access

• Finally
• Prepare an action point for yourself to take
  away from this session remember to make it
• SMART -
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic and
• Time specific
• Share your action point with other group members
  and discuss.

Part B