ICTeam

Nuno Dorotea

In the 2018 International Computer and Information Literacy Study by European Union, it is set that digital competence constitutes an essential skill for participating in a technology driven world. This also applies to students with disabilities/special needs.

Learners with disabilities/special needs cannot participate in civic and social life in today’s world without handling basic skills in ICT. Yet, schools and other non-formal education organisations do not always support development of digital competences for learners with special needs, both youth and adults.

The objective of the InClusion Team (ICTeam) project is to exploit digital learning environments aiming to reinforce the development of ICT competences for learners with special needs/disabilities. The project aims to create a learning community where Universities, schools, teacher training centre and NGOs exchange good practices of teaching ICT to students and adults with special needs. The participating parties aim to provide training for educators and enhance the availability of good quality learning tools and resources. This will be done under the pedagogical guidance of the Universidad de La Laguna and the Instituto de Educação da Universidade de Lisboa.

The project takes into account five key propositions for the use of ICTs in education, as identified in United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

As a product a Toolkit for ICT in Special Education will be developed to support teachers. The ICTeam Toolkit include the following modules:

• ICT and SEN
• Assistive Technologies for SEN
• Social approach to ICT for SEN
• Inclusive ICT for SEN
• Training of staff for specialist ICT

The transnational value of the project lays on the fact that special education is organized differently for SEN learners, both students and adults. There are cultural differences and differences between schools and non-formal education actors. It is essential to take into account the needs and wishes of the learners and their parents. Participants will learn and exchange different teaching practices, teaching materials, ways of organizing, collaborative ways and establishing new good suggestions for special education.

The results expected during the project and on its completion is a strengthened capacity of the participating organisations to provide more attractive education programmes for learners with disabilities/special needs; a more modern and committed school environment where one is ready to integrate good ICT practice and methods for Special needs education into daily activities, and a reinforced responsibility to the challenges of democratic values and fundamental rights, social inclusion, non-discrimination and active citizenship.

Learners with disabilities/special needs participate in learning activities that results in basic skills in ICT and thus have an increased opportunity for those of disadvantages.

01/09/2021 – 31/08/2023

Programme: Erasmus+
Key Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices – Strategic Partnerships for school education

Reference
2020-1-1NO01-KA201-076430