Social Inclusion Open Access Journal | ISSN: 2183-2803
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Social Inclusion Open Access Journal | ISSN: 2183-2803 Volume 3, Issue 6 (2015) Special Issue Inclusive Technologies and Learning Editor Don Passey Social Inclusion, 2015, Volume 3, Issue 6 Special Issue: Inclusive Technologies and Learning Published by Cogitatio Press Rua Fialho de Almeida 14, 2º Esq., 1070-129 Lisbon Portugal Guest Editor Don Passey, Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, UK Managing Editors Amandine Gatelier, Cogitatio Press, Portugal António Vieira, Cogitatio Press, Portugal Available online at: www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion This issue is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY). Articles may be reproduced provided that credit is given to the original and Social Inclusion is acknowledged as the original venue of publication. Table of Contents Editorial Inclusive Technologies and Learning: Research, Practice and Policy Don Passey 1-6 Article A Black Swan in a Sea of White Noise: Using Technology-Enhanced Learning to Afford Educational Inclusivity for Learners with Asperger’s Syndrome James McDowell 7-15 Article A Collaborative Action Research about Making Self-Advocacy Videos with People with Intellectual Disabilities Ann-Louise Davidson 16-28 Article Developing Inclusive Technical Capital beyond the Disabled Students’ Allowance in England Simon Hayhoe, Kris Roger, Sebastiaan Eldritch-Böersen and Linda Kelland 29-41 Article How Pedagogy 2.0 Can Foster Teacher Preparation and Community Building in Special Education Elizabeth Hardman 42-55 Article The Potential of Digital Technologies for Transforming Informed Consent Practices with Children and Young People in Social Research Sarah Parsons 56-68 Article Opening Doors or Slamming Them Shut? Online Learning Practices and Students with Disabilities Sheryl Burgstahler 69-79 Social Inclusion (ISSN: 2183-2803) 2015, Volume 3, Issue 6, Pages 1-6 Doi: 10.17645/si.v3i6.543 Editorial Inclusive Technologies and Learning: Research, Practice and Policy Don Passey Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YD, UK; E-Mail: [email protected] Submitted: 21 December 2015 | Published: 28 December 2015 Keywords digital technologies; disability; education; learning; social inclusion Issue This editorial is part of the special issue “Inclusive Technologies and Learning”, edited by Don Passey (Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, UK). © 2015 by the author; licensee Cogitatio (Lisbon, Portugal). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribu- tion 4.0 International License (CC BY). 1. Background and Focus of this Special Issue Are digital technologies being developed to enhance learning and social inclusion (such as the This special issue focuses on an important contempo- way the development of virtual worlds is rary concern—inclusive technologies and learning. described by Doyle, 2010, for example)? Since the 1960s there has been a continued develop- How are online learning and social networking ment and diversification of digital technologies used practices influencing social inclusion in learning across societal sectors (Bijker, Hughes, Pinch, & Douglas, (engaging in practices and realising outcomes in 2012), enabling applications not solely within business the forms detailed in Coomey, & Stephenson, and commerce, but significantly within educational and 2001, for example)? social settings (such as those discussed by The Metiri Do digital technologies benefit certain groups to Group, 2006, for example), supporting communication greater extents, or specifically, in terms of and learning (for example, shown by Richardson, 2012), learning related to social inclusion (in situations providing opportunities to widen and deepen reach and such as those discussed by Campigotto, McEwen, interactions (as indicated, for example, by Kim, Hagashi, & Epp, 2013, for example)? Carillo, Gonzales, Makany, Lee, & Gàrate, 2011). It can Do digital technologies support learning and be argued that such developments have created many social inclusion across all ages, in terms of divisions and challenges too (Resta, & Laferrière, 2008); intergenerational learning, and independent of individuals as well as nations may not have the same cultures (through processes such as those access or facilities as others (ITU, 2015); and issues described by Palaigeorgiou, Triantafyllakos, & such as exploitation and exclusion are regularly high- Tsinakos, 2011, for example)? lighted (Dutta, Geiger, & Lanvin, 2015). This special issue is concerned with inclusive technologies and learning, In this special issue, six papers are presented, each related to social inclusion. Key questions considered in providing a different perspective, but all focusing on the papers selected for this special issue include: inclusive technologies and learning. Whilst all six pa- pers offer different views, there is, however, a com- For learning, training or employment, do digital mon message that emerges from across these six pa- technologies enable social inclusion within pers; that is—there is a vital need for research in the educational or training settings (helping to field of inclusive technologies and learning to continue address the range of problems identified in the to explore ways that allow individuals who have disa- extensive study of Vaughn, Wexler, Beaver, bilities or communication needs to collaborate and be Perron, Roberts, & Fu, 2011, for example)? involved in research activities if we are to effectively Social Inclusion, 2015, Volume 3, Issue 6, Pages 1-6 1 identify outcomes that can be applied purposefully each of the papers, important emerging points from through policy and practice. each of them arise. 2. Research, Practice and Policy Perspectives 3. An Overview of Each Paper with Key Emerging Points In essence, these six papers offer perspectives that McDowell (2015) offers a qualitative case study of an throw light on the research, policy and practice arena. undergraduate university cohort, exploring the ways In the field of inclusive technologies and learning, the that online learning can support individuals on the au- three elements of research, policy and practice are tistic spectrum in engagement with group work. This seen and recognised as being necessarily closely con- case study investigates practices that teachers provide, nected and affected: where the teacher is also the researcher. However, the focus is clearly on the learners, undergraduates in a Research in this field can (and it is argued, should) university course. The paper raises questions—how can draw out findings that have implications for policy group work be effectively managed to include learners and for practice. on the autistic spectrum, and what are the implications Policy should take research and practice into for practice and policy? The paper argues from a prac- account if it is to afford voice to those with tice viewpoint that there is a need to strongly consider disabilities or communication needs that are a these questions. What will happen beyond the course part of an inclusive community or population. and the university context is certainly not clear, and Practice should not only be aware of policy and how the involvement that has been achieved can be research in this field, but should review regularly supported in the long term for these learners is not what effects this awareness is having on activity within the gift of those undertaking the study or even and on outcomes in terms of learning. within the institution of the learners. This paper shows that while practice clearly needs to consider how to Although these six papers have clear and important support collaborative and group work when cohorts in- messages and implications for policy, it is interesting clude individuals on the autistic spectrum, policy at a that few policy makers have been involved directly in local and wider level importantly needs at the same that research. The research that is reported has fo- time to recognise the importance for individuals on the cused mainly on gathering evidence from learners and autistic spectrum to be able to work in groups. Taking from teachers. But the three audiences of researchers, this practice forward may well, therefore, be a concern policy personnel and practitioners are all important in not just at a local university level, but at national and the context of these papers. A way of considering this international policy focus levels too. In terms of Figure is to think of the actors being influenced by an audi- 1, the study directly involves the research and practice ence ‘slice’ (shown in Figure 1). slices, but has vitally important messages and implica- Thinking about this form of relationship through tions for the policy slice. Figure 1. A relationship of actors and audience. Social Inclusion, 2015, Volume 3, Issue 6, Pages 1-6 2 Davidson (2015) provides a contrasting study, a collab- effectively support students with disabilities, with prac- orative action research study, which looks at how adult tice seeking to introduce ways that are effective for learners living with an intellectual disability can be in- students with disabilities. Taking this practice forward, volved in producing videos that tell their story and local university policy focus will clearly be an important gives others access to their achievements and success- next step. In terms of Figure 1, the study informs us es. The study focuses on the learners, adult learners, through the research and practice slices,