Inclusive learning through technology – Ireland

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IRELAND

Inclusive Learning Through Technology

The Inclusive Learning Through Technology Project was created in 2003 to study how a wider spectrum of abilities in the learning process might be recognized for students with a disability. The brainchild of Dr Ger Craddock, formerly of Central Remedial Clinic, The ILT project has taken an innovative approach to assisting students, both those with special learning needs and those without, to acquire critical thinking skills through the use of a range of technologies and innovative thinking skills techniques. Through The McMahan Center-Abilities Activists support, two special schools; the Central Remedial Clinic school and St Gabriel’s School and subsequently two mainstream schools St Tierans and St Mary’s all located in Ireland, gained options for new learning horizons and practices supported by cutting edge network technologies and training workshops in new approaches to learning strategies.

Initially, a virtual learning environment (Interactive collaboration website) was established which enabled teachers and students to share and exchange information and project work that was taking place between the four schools situated in different parts of Ireland. Now in its third and final year, the project is measuring the impact of access to modern mobile information for expanding a student’s learning environment; evaluating the efficacy of assistive technology and examining its contribution to the learning process; promoting the concept of "learning to learn" among teachers and increasing opportunities in class for students to actively engage in a process of co-construction of knowledge; and examining the potential of new learning interfaces.

The Inclusive Learning Through Technology Project integrated technology in the participating schools in three important ways,

The provision of ubiquitous Information Communication Technology (ICT), each student has been provided with a laptop computer equipped with wireless network capability and the latest technology and software to facilitate easier communication and exchange of information.
Interactive whiteboards within the classrooms have transformed the way the teacher and student are interacting, re-invigorating class participation.
The assistive technology needs of individual students have been provided for through a range of hardware and software solutions.

In addition to the technological inputs teachers were provided with training in the thinking skills developed by Edward De Bono and more specifically the CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust) Thinking Techniques for use in the classroom. The thinking skills programme aimed to provide students with tools to improve their learning strategies in a move away from a uni-dimensional or whole group instruction to a more differentiated and learner centred approach.

Awards for Excellence

St Mary’s was the only national school in Ireland to receive the European Award for Languages, St Mary’s was amongst twelve successful projects selected on ‘the criteria of excellence, innovation and the ability to serve as a model for others’. The project submitted was entitled ‘The Process of Applying Lateral Thinking Skills to the Teaching and Learning of Modern Language and Culture’. The technology used and the thinking skills employed within this project were introduced through the ILT Project. A further award was bestowed on St Mary’s, who have also just won the 2007 Discover Primary Science Award of Science Excellence again using the new techniques and the technology in the application of a science project.

An award for excellence in the use of ICT was awarded to the Central Remedial Clinic school by the Department of Education, they received the award for the following criteria: Leadership & Vision, ICT in the curriculum, School ICT culture, Professional development and Resources & infrastructure. The principal of the school attributed much of their success to the ILT project, “The school has acquired state of the art resources and new skills in ICT and we acknowledge and appreciate the fruitful collaboration with Ger and the ILT project for their part in assisting us to meet the criteria for this award.”

The project has developed two online learning courses for teachers covering the central elements of the project “Differentiated Instruction for Inclusion” and “Technology in an Inclusive Classroom”, to date over five hundred teachers have taken the course through the Department of Education’s summer course programme. Access and details of the course will be available in 2008.