ZONE 4/5 Summer Conference

Supporting Inclusive Learning Environments through Technology

• School Technology Sector• Bette Gray – Director• Edna Dach – Education Manager

What we will do today:

Supporting Inclusive Learning Environments through Technology

Context and

ResearchCurrent

Initiatives Resources

Fetal Alcohol

Syndrome Disorder

Wards of the Province First language that is neither English nor French

First Nations, Métis or Inuit Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identified learning disabilities

Severe behaviour emotional

issues

Autistic

Cognitive disabilities

Physical disability

Live below the poverty line

1 in 5 will have unique educational needs

STS supports students and the Ministry by understanding how technology can advance learning and teaching

We do this by:

o Connecting with the Field and the Department on technology matterso Identifying emerging technology and researching how it can support educationo Making technology more accessible to all students in all schools

Our Digital World

93% of 8-18 year olds lived in homes with computers in 2009. (Kaiser Family Foundation 2009)

81.6%of Alberta students have high speed internet at home8.2% of Alberta students have dial up at home

10.3%of Alberta students have no internet access at home

17 MillionCanadian Facebook users

(Inside Network)

130 FriendsThe average Facebook user has

17.5MCanadians visit YouTube every month Spend an average of 292 minutes a month watching videos(Post Media News,2011)

66%of 8-18 year olds own their own cell phone. (Kaiser Family Foundation ,2010)

118 Average number of texts sent daily by junior and senior high students(Kaiser Family Foundation (2010)

58% of teens from schools that forbid all phones, have sent a text message during class. (Pew Internet Research)

21% of teens access the Internet from their mobile phone (Pew Internet Research)

62%of online teens (12-17) get news about current events and politics online. (Pew Internet Research

2009)

84%of Canadian children have some type of online presence by the time they are 2 years old(Research Now)

33%

40.5%The percentage of Internet users who say they worry about how much information is available online about them

(Pew Internet Research)

has decreased

books as tools

Inclusive Education

Provide all students with the most appropriate learning environments and opportunities for them to best achieve their potential.

Education for ALL

Universal Design for Learning

Promising Practices That Foster Inclusive Education

Some of the key practices include:– Constructivist learning

theory – Balanced approach to

literacy instruction – Authentic assessment of

student performance – Use of technology in the

classroom

• by Alice Udvari-Solner, Jacqueline S. Thousand, Richard A. Villa, Alice Quiocho and M. G. (Peggy) Kelly

• Available from ASCD

Role of Technology

• “For people without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible …”

- National Council on Disability

Role of Technology

“Technology…is both a medium and a powerful tool in supporting inclusive practice. It provides wide-ranging support for communication, assisting many learners to engage with learning,” (Becta, 2007).

Determining What Technology

Individual Task

Technology Context

Recent Technology Initiatives

Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning

Technology and High School Success

Innovative Classrooms

Supporting Innovative Classrooms

Personally-Owned Devices – Community of Practice

Integrating SMART Boards

Smart Inclusion

http://smartinclusion.wikispaces.com/Smart+Inclusion+Home

Educational Standing Offers (ESO)

• Electronic Whiteboard Technology

• Data Projector

Technology

Current Educational Standing Offers (ESO)

• Laptop and Desktop Computers

• Videoconference Endpoint Technology

• Boardmaker ESO

Coming Soon!

• Tablets• Text to Speech

Software• FM systems

Provincial Licenses

• Microsoft Office– http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/wind

ows7/default.aspx– The Ease of Access Center is a central location

where you can modify the accessibility settings and programs available in Windows.

Digital Formats of Authorized English Language Arts Novels

A number of the novels authorized to support the Grades 4 to 12 English Language Arts program of studies are available in digital formats.

Digital Administration of Diploma Exams and Achievement Tests

• Quest A+• Student Owned Digital Devices• Assistive Technologies

Trends from Research-International -Canada-Alberta-IT and ET

Resources

Inclusive Schools in Action: Making Differences Ordinary By: James McLeskey & Nancy L. Waldron

Teaching in Today's Inclusive Classrooms: A Universal Design for Learning Approach •Richard M. Gargiulo & Debbie Metcalf

Resources

• Action on Inclusion– http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/

inclusion.aspx

Resources

2Learnwww.2learn.ca

Resources

Alberta Consortium of Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology:

• www.acrat.org

Resources

Canadian Research Center on Inclusive Education

• www.inclusiveeducationresearch.ca

Resources

www.cast.org

Center for Applied Special Technology

Technology examples of UDL

• http://www.udlcenter.org/implementation/examples/examples3_1

Signed Storieshttp://www.signedstories.com/index.cfm

• This library of digital books is available for deaf and hearing audiences. Each story is signed using British Sign Language, read aloud, and captioned in English.

• Age Group: K-4Content Area: LiteracyCost: FreeTechnology Involved: Internet connection

Effective Color Contrasthttp://www.lighthouse.org/accessibility/design/accessible-print-design/effective-

color-contrast• Learn how to customize the display of

information for individuals with visual impairments. This website includes examples that illustrate how hue, lightness, and saturation impact visual perception.

• Age Group: All agesContent Area: All contentCost: FreeTechnology Involved: Internet connection

Readabilityhttp://www.readability.com/

• Readability is a simple tool that makes reading on the web more enjoyable by removing the clutter around what you're reading.

• Age Group: All agesContent Area: All contentCost: FreeTechnology Involved: Internet connection

What can you do?

• Embedding UDL principles into school plans • Leveraging the technology• Training and Supporting • Identifying gaps • Building a community of practice that

supports inclusion• Working collectively

Discussion

How are you using to technology to support inclusive education?

What we hear

Our network is “locked down”

How can we be sure that our technology investments will

help us achieve our educational goals?

How do we pay for all of this?

How are we going to

support it all?

Are you sure my child’s information is protected?

My staff want to innovate but we don’t have enough technical

support.

Is my child learning the right skills?

Teacher Principal Superintendent Parents Treasurer IT Leader

School Technology Services Program

http://bit.ly/schooltechnologyservices

IT GovernanceIT Service ManagementInformation Security

Other Projects

Twelfth Dimension of the CASS Framework for School System Success

Professional Development for IT Personnel K-12 Technology Risk Assessment Framework Acceptable/Responsible Use Agreements in

Alberta Schools A Superintendent’s Guide to Cloud Computing:

Benefits, Risks, and Considerations in the Alberta K-12 Context

Questions?

Contact us:Dr. Bette GrayDirector, STSBette.Gray@gov.ab.ca

Ms. Edna DachEducation Manager, STSEdna.Dach@gov.ab.ca

Ms. Dianne McConnellDirector, Inclusive Learning SupportsDianne.McConnell@gov.ab.ca