This project was requested after identifying a problem in ensuring a better inclusion in online education for students with specific educational needs (SEN), which became necessary during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Education had to rapidly adapt to working in this format, and in this process, the attention that SEN students required took a backseat, compromising their educational and inclusive needs. The addressed needs in ensuring their access to digital education, a lack of quality tools and resources for teaching these students through this methodology, as well as specific training for teachers and families who took on greater responsibility in this scenario of education outside of school. A research was conducted to identify the educational needs of teachers when it comes to instructing students with special educational needs in the context of online education, taking into account the cultural differences, teaching models, and legislation among the participating partners. Based on the results of this research, a series of topics related to social skills, self-care, and daily care were selected for primary and secondary education levels. Additionally, teachers and technical staff were trained in the four Learning, Teaching, and Training (LTT) activities of the project, and the intellectual outputs (IO1: Social Inclusive Module, IO2: Mobile App, IO3: Web-Platform) were prepared, which were subsequently promoted by the different participating organizations through two multiplier events and various project dissemination activities. After completing the project, we have obtained three Intellectual Outputs. IO1 is a Digital Inclusive / Social Education Module that includes a guide with 24 teaching scenarios for primary and secondary students with SEN to work on social, self-care, and daily care skills in different applicable classroom, online, and potential lockdown scenarios. These activities have been reviewed to ensure they are adapted to the cultural environments where they will be implemented. IO2: Digital Education Content Whole (Mobile App) is a mobile application that, in the form of an interactive video game, allows students with special educational needs to work on these concepts through a total of 60 challenges for primary and secondary students. Finally, IO3 is an E-Learning Platform for Special Education that facilitates access and dissemination of the generated resources and application. All the generated resources are available in English as well as in the languages of the participating project partners (Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Croatian, and Turkish).
This project aimed to change the previous paradigm and mitigate the digital/social gap identified among students with special educational needs. The specific objectives of the project were: 1. Ensure that students with SEN had access to free materials to work on self-care, social, and everyday life skills. 2. Provide the European educational community and educational organizations with high-quality digital materials for working with these students on these skills. 3. Enhance the development of digital competence in the participating institutions in the project. 4. Foster a global European perspective among these students, as well as the involved teachers and families. 5. Present a module of lessons that would be useful for teachers and families working with this type of student.
This project was requested after identifying a problem in ensuring a better inclusion in online education for students with specific educational needs (SEN), which became necessary during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Education had to rapidly adapt to working in this format, and in this process, the attention that SEN students required took a backseat, compromising their educational and inclusive needs. The addressed needs in ensuring their access to digital education, a lack of quality tools and resources for teaching these students through this methodology, as well as specific training for teachers and families who took on greater responsibility in this scenario of education outside of school.