Using Digital Technologies to Promote Inclusive Practices in Education

In April 2008, Becta, the United Kingdom’s Educational Communications and Technology Agency, commissioned Futurelab to collect insights and guidance from exploration of current inclusive practices in primary, secondary, and further education (FE) sectors, resulting in this publication. Teacher case studies, desk research, and expert interviews inform the main corpus of this handbook. The purpose of the handbook is to provide educators with guidance on using digital technologies to promote inclusive practices in schools and colleges. In so doing, the handbook addresses key educational agendas.

Case studies have been chosen to illustrate the potential impact digital technologies can make by widening access to learning and making possible new approaches to learning. Although the case studies provided are from different sectors, users are encouraged to explore the methods and activities used in each, as these may offer new perspectives that the user may wish to consider.

The main aims of this report are:

• to summarise the evidence from research, policy, and practice for the promotion of inclusive practices in schools and the FE sector;
  
• to highlight current inclusive practice and the role digital technologies can play in supporting learners;
  
• to provide useful guidance on developing inclusive activities;
  
• to provide a directory of resources to promote inclusive practices across education sectors.

The audience for this report is likely to include head teachers, college principals, local authority lead practitioners, and teachers.

Contents include:

1. Introduction to inclusive education
   
2. Framework for developing an inclusive institution
   
3. Education policy and information and communication technologies
   
4. Inclusive education policy drivers
   
5. Online resources