Using ICT to promote inclusion
Pupils record learning about the Great Fire of London
Cath Harper, Oak Tree Primary School, Ashford

As SENCo and ICT Co-ordinator I am frequently faced with recommendations to use ICT to support or meet the needs of a child with SEN. Advice is rarely backed up with practical suggestions, referenced to specific software. Ways of using ICT with the child are not made clear; instead, a rather sweeping statement is left for us to interpret.

I did not feel confident in making effective use of ICT to include such children with special needs in a productive and positive way. This project provided me with the opportunity to try out software I was unfamiliar with. I was able to identify and evaluate strategies for inclusion of children with SEN in history based activities.

Within my Year 2 class there is a wide range of ability, including four statemented children with considerable literacy difficulties. I used PowerPoint and Clicker 4 with the SEN children to help them record what they had learned at the end of our History topic on the Great Fire of London.

Summary of outcomes
Button Children with very low literacy skills used Clicker successfully to record learning.
Button Most pupils were able to work independently, with little support.
Button After practice, teachers were able to prepare grids in a short time. Training for all staff (including LSAs) has been an important element.
Clicker is now used on laptops in the classroom, with LSA support, as an effective means of inclusion.
Button Both Clicker and PowerPoint allowed pupils to record more than they normally would on paper. Children showed better understanding of the topic.
Button Presentation in PowerPoint boosted pupils' self esteem and confidence.

 | Published: 14-1-09  | TOP