Technology to Support Additional Support Needs (ASN) in Education

This innovative and exciting 10-week online course is aimed at educators who would like to increase their knowledge on how technology can expand educational opportunities for learners with Additional Support Needs (ASN), e.g. arising from conditions such as dyslexia, sensory impairment, severe and complex learning needs, autism, and communication difficulties.

The course is framed within the context of the Scottish education system.

The focus of the course will highlight and explore a range of assistive technologies and resources for pupils who require additional support within an educational context to address barriers to learning. You will learn about strategies and processes to help you make the most of technology, either specialised software or tools that are built into the operating system of devices, e.g. Windows, iPads (iOS) and Chromebooks.

The course will be delivered online by the CALL Scotland team and includes weekly 1-hour online workshops, supplemented with relevant, practical and engaging resources to support each session.

The online workshops are on Tuesday from 4:00 to 5:00pm and are delivered by the CALL Scotland team.

Aims of the course:

• Develop an understanding of assistive technology and how it can be used with learners who require additional support.
• Extend and enhance your knowledge of best practice when using technology with learners who require additional support.
• Consider and engage with assistive technology assessment frameworks to provide appropriate technologies to meet different learning needs.
• Consider legal and policy requirements relating to inclusive policies, strategies, assistive technology and accessible materials.
• Increase confidence when working with technology to address barriers to learning.

If you choose, you can submit a small reflective, practical task to consolidate your learning, thereby offering a unique opportunity to undertake 'practitioner enquiry' to enhance education inclusion.

• Identify a range of assistive technologies (including tools built into mainstream devices), resources, and strategies to support learners with additional needs.
• Apply practical assistive technology knowledge and skills within your workplace to facilitate new inclusive opportunities for your learners.
• Consider assistive technology frameworks to provide the correct support to meet different learning needs.
• Explore relevant theories such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how they can be applied to create inclusive learning opportunities.

This is an ideal course for anyone new to assistive technology and ASN and also for those who have some experience – hopefully you will learning something new!

The course is suitable for all teachers, Support for Learning teachers, Pupil Support Assistants and other professionals working with primary and secondary pupils.

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.