Abstract
This paper proposes a model of inclusive technical capital, and its use in the evaluation of technology and education designed to include students with disabilities. This paper also examines the role of mainstream mobile technologies and m-learning in the inclusion of students with disabilities. A recent research project on the inclusivity of native settings and apps on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android mobile operating systems is reviewed, and a model of evaluation is proposed as a starting point for future evaluations. The paper concludes that mobile technology has advantages over traditional assistive technologies as a tool of inclusive technical capital. However, more needs to be done to develop tablets and smartphones’ native settings and apps to include students with disabilities. It is also found that mobile devices as a whole need to become cheaper in order to make them more socially inclusive.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2015/16 |
| Place of Publication | Cambridge, UK |
| Chapter | 5 - in Access Inclusion and Equality section |
| Pages | 81-83 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Volume | 2015/16 |
| Edition | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Launched at the triennial Commonwealth Conference of Education Ministers (19CCEM) in Nassau, The Bahamas in 2015, the publication is an invaluable resource for ministers, senior officials and other stakeholders. Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2015/16 reflects the conference theme of ‘Quality Education for Equitable Development: Performance, Paths, Productivity – the 3 Ps’.This year’s edition looks at the role of schools and universities in the development agenda and the place of education in the 21st century as the Millennium Development Goals reach their target date.
Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2015/16 includes the latest thinking on:
- The relationship between the state and non-state education providers
- Access and quality – gender, language and curriculum issues
- The role of technical and vocational education and training
- Special focus on reading: basic literacy through to literature studies
- Catering for the increasing demand for higher education in developing countries
- The impact of transnational education: widening access vs preserving quality
The publication also includes extensive education profiles of the 53 Commonwealth member countries, incorporating the latest data on education systems, participation and outcomes.
Keywords
- disability
- inclusion
- assistive technology
- inclusive technology
- technical capital
- mobile technology
- tablets
- m-learning
- smartphones