Technology to Support ASN in Education

Starts 4th February, 2025 • 10-week course • £450 per individual

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), i.e., arising from conditions such as dyslexia, sensory impairment, severe and complex learning needs, autism, and communication difficulties.

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.

What you'll get

As well as the live face-to-face sessions, you'll also receive a recording of the meeting (and resources) each week.
Weekly Q&A sessions.
Access to a bank of ideas and ready-made resources.
A CALL Scotland (University of Edinburgh) certificate - issued as evidence of your learning.

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About the course

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.

Course structure and weekly workshops

Week 1: An overview of the course and an introduction to assistive technology and ASN. Find out about the Inclusive Digital Learning & Assistive Technology Staged Intervention model, what is it and why is it important? Also, meet your tutors and colleagues and feel free to ask any questions about the course.
Week 2: Developing the early literacy and writing skills of learners with additional support needs and communication difficulties.
Week 3: Supporting literacy difficulties, what are the options?
Week 4: Augmentative and Alternative Communication technologies (AAC) and strategies for learners with additional support needs.
Week 5: Technology to support learners with visual difficulties.
Week 6: Technology to support learners with complex needs.
Week 7: Switch access, wheelchair mounts and access solutions to support physical impairments.
Week 8: Technology to support autistic learners.
Week 9: Assistive Technology assessment models, what are they and why are they important? An overview of SETT and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) - what are they and how do they relate to assistive technology?
Week10: An opportunity to review content from previous weeks. CALL staff will be on hand to answer questions.

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.

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.

Course details

Starts 4th February, 2025.
10-week course (Tue 4 Feb - 8 Apr 2025).
4:00pm - 5:00pm (UK time zone).
£450 per individual.

Course tutors

CALL Scotland team members Paul Nisbet, Kirsteen Steven, Claire Harrison, Joanna Courtney, Ceanna MacGregor and Craig Mill are your course tutors – they have many years of experience in supporting learners with ASN using technology.

How to connect

Our live sessions are delivered using Microsoft Teams and we provide full joining instructions. There are a maximum of 25 participants so everyone can have an interactive collegiate learning experience.

Further questions

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions before signing up: craig.mill@ed.ac.uk

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.

Learning Outcomes

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.