European Survey on eLearning for Disabled People
Technology has great potential to overcome physical barriers. It could improve access to learning for people with disabilities, according to a new survey hosted by the Electronic Training Village (ETV) http://www.trainingvillage.gr, the interactive web site of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop). The Europe-wide survey revealed widespread optimism, but suggests that more pro-active initiatives need to be taken to ensure improvements are made.
In the survey over 320 respondents across Europe gave their views about accessibility to eLearning for people with disabilities. Most were extremely positive about the potential benefits and opportunities for learners with disabilities opened up by technology, but few know how to increase accessibility or about international best practice.
Innovative opportunities
Over one fifth of disabled eLearners require voice or speech recognition software to communicate with computers and 28% require other technology to assist with the physical manipulation of information. Yet only 3% of respondents said they were seeking ways of improving access for those with learning difficulties, notably dyslexia.
Half the respondents thought eLearning would offer users with disabilities more opportunities to learn. 54.8% expected it to open up new and innovative opportunities. Only 1.5% considered eLearning inappropriate for the disabled.
Although most respondents were very positive about the potential benefits of eLearning for people with disabilities, only about a third are actively developing an understanding and awareness of current research and practice. Indeed, less than 18% of respondents were aware of any of the major global reports or guidelines on accessibility.
From the survey it appears that most people still believe modern eLearning involves merely reading off a screen. In fact eLearning technology has now evolved into a set of interactive multimedia applications. It promises to help many a disabled person attain the education they deserve.
Trends in eLearning
The survey on the ETV is one of a series examining European attitudes and trends in eLearning. The survey was published in English, French, German and Spanish.
Over 90% of the respondents were from European countries. About half came from the public sector, and roughly 17% had direct contact with disabled people as a result of their jobs. The private sector accounted for around 30%.
When asked to indicate the nature of the disability affecting their students, over half cited either hearing or visual disabilities. 17.5% mentioned problems with speech, whilst over 30% cited learning difficulties. Around a third of respondents described the disability as ‹physicalŠ and 15% stated ‹otherŠ (including mental illness, psychiatric problems, brain injury, and behavioural difficulties).
The biggest proportion, 32.5%, said their learners required additional visual assistance (ranging from needing spectacles to using Braille). A similar percentage (31.6%) required hearing aids or signing. Since these two groups make up two thirds of the disabled community, even simple developments, such as allowing the user to switch between text and sound, should increase the accessibility of eLearning.
As promising as the new technology is, there is still a lot of work to be done before eLearning is at its most effective, not least in raising public awareness.
The full survey report in four languages is available at:
http://www2.trainingvillage.gr/etv/elearning/surveys/surmain.asp
Further details from Eva Smirli at: esm@cedefop.eu.int
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