Digital inclusion and well-being: promoting technological integration in vocational education and training

Riccardo Maniscalco
Feb 10
2 min read

Problem addressed

In Europe, technology is not yet used effectively in schools. The pandemic has made the problem of the digital divide even more evident, showing that those who do not have access to technology risk being excluded from society and work. Often, strategies for digital education do not take into account the difficulties of those who are most disadvantaged. For this reason, it is important to combine digitalization and inclusion, in order to help students with DSA and BES.

Proposed Solutions

Develop blended learning approaches

Tools such as educational games and assistive technologies can help students and teachers learn better and develop digital skills. Blended learning combines online and offline activities, allowing students to use technology together with hands-on experiences. An example is the eBird app, which helps children learn about nature by identifying bird sounds with technology. Based on this model, new similar activities can be created.

However, there are some problems to consider:

Difficulty accessing technology and the internet
High costs for tools and training
Mental Health Risks from Excessive Technology Use
Specific needs of students with DSA and BES

On the other hand, some studies, such as that of Good (2021) [1] , show that technology can be very useful. For example, digital tools can help children on the autism spectrum improve their social and communication skills, facilitating their participation in group work and school activities.

[1]https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/40fa80d3-en .

Training teachers on digital skills

It is important to provide ongoing training to teachers to help them use technology in a safe and inclusive way.

For this reason, creating networks of teachers to share experiences, methods and strategies can be very useful.

Furthermore, every school should have technology-savvy staff to support teachers in the practical and educational use of digital tools.

Distance learning solutions for everyone

During school closures, many education systems struggled to support students who were not used to studying alone or online (Gouëdard, Pont, and Viennet, 2020). Distance learning required a great deal of independent effort from students and parents, but many were not prepared for this type of learning.

Furthermore, the lack of a good digital infrastructure made the transition to online teaching even more difficult, even for teachers, who often did not even have adequate computers.

An example of a useful resource is " Il Gambero Invisibile ", a fun-educational web-app promoted by the WWF and designed for children aged 6 to 13. It can be used both individually and for group activities, making learning more engaging.

[2]https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/8e95f977-en .