Making e-learning inclusive for all students regarding their abilities
Our main objective was to create an e-learning platform that would be accessible to all students, including those with physical, cognitive, and learning disabilities. The project included a variety of activities, such as developing accessible eLearning materials and providing training and support for teachers. We provided alternative formats for content, such as voice over, subtitles and sign language videos. We focused our initiative on creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive.
Regional
Albania
Kosovo, Diaspora
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
UNICEF
Yes
Europeans Making a Difference 2021
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Akademi.al Type of organisation: For-profit company First name of representative: Dean Last name of representative: Çelaj Gender: Female Nationality: Albania If relevant, please select your other nationality: Albania Function: Executive Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Rr. "Themistokli Germenji" Town: Tirana Postal code: 1011 Country: Albania Direct Tel:+355 68 202 4930 E-mail:info@akademi.al Website:https://akademi.al
Akademi.al is an online learning platform that has offered for free recorded and live lessons during the pandemic for children aged 3-18. Akademi.al has populated the platform with video lessons according to the unified curriculum of subjects released by the Ministry of Education and Sport. It has been a challenge adapting the content with accessibility features for visually impaired and hearing-impaired children. To understand the latest trend in digital content development for children with disability and to take some action on how to adapt the digital content of the platform for it to be useful for all disabled individuals we have contacted experts and request their thoughts on what we could do to improve their overall experience with the process of teaching and learning with Akademi.al platform. Given the fact that we could not meet physically we have conducted some online focus groups towards getting some valuable feedback which would be fundamental with our ongoing work. For this initiative, we collaborated with UNICEF and attached voice-over and subtitles to more than 1500 video-lessons for pre-university system curriculum. About 1000 video lessons have been sent to Albanian National Association of the Deaf (ANAD) to be adapted into sign language. All these videos can be found now on akademi.al platform and our YouTube channel.
We collaborated with UNICEF and attached voice-over and subtitles to more than 1500 video-lessons for pre-university system curriculum. About 1000 video lessons have been sent to Albanian National Association of the Deaf (ANAD) to be adapted into sign language. All these videos can be found now on akademi.al platform and our YouTube channel.
Education
Sign Language
Free Education
Disability
Online Learning
Key objectives of our initiative in terms of sustainability:
1. Promoting equitable access to quality education for all students, regardless of their background or ability. It's critical to make sure that all students have equal access to high-quality education, regardless of their background, as well as the same resources and possibilities.
2. Developing and implementing effective strategies to ensure that all students can reach their full potential. This can be achieved by ensuring that all students have access to the same curriculum and providing support services for students with special needs.
4. Fostering a culture of respect and acceptance for diversity in the education environment. This creates an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all students, including those with disabilities and promotes positive relationships between students of different backgrounds.
5. Providing appropriate resources and support to ensure that all students can participate and succeed in online education.
Our initiative can be exemplary in terms of sustainability by utilizing digital tools and resources that are accessible to all students, and by creating a learning environment that is equitable and inclusive for all students regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This includes providing students with the necessary technology and support to access online learning materials, such as assistive technology, captioning, and audio descriptions.
In terms of aesthetics and quality of experience:
The primary objective of our initiative has been to ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, have access to the same educational opportunities. Through Akademi.al platform we have provided accessible content, such as audio, video, and text, resources that are easy to use and understand, and tools to help users with disabilities navigate the online learning environment.
Providing support for users with disabilities, such as technical assistance for all learners that use our akademi.al platform (online learning environment).
Utilizing multimedia elements such as videos, audio, and graphics to enhance the learning experience and incorporating interactive elements such as quizzes to keep students engaged.
Designing the online learning environment to be accessible and user friendly to all users, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities.
Our initiative can be exemplary in terms of user experience by providing a range of accessible tools and resources that are tailored to the needs of all learners. This includes providing content in multiple formats, such as audio, video, and text, to ensure that all learners can access the material and providing a range of interactive activities and assessments that will be designed to engage all learners, regardless of their abilities.
In terms of inclusion:
Providing free equitable access to quality education for all students, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or circumstances. We have put the online learning environment (akademi.al platform) at the service of all users regardless of their abilities. Video-lessons based on the curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Sports are offered for free for all students regardless of their abilities.
Creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all learners, including those with disabilities, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Ensuring that all students have access to the same educational opportunities and resources and promoting the development of digital skills and the use of technology to support learning.
Our initiative can be exemplary in terms of inclusion by providing a variety of resources and tools to support students with different learning needs. This includes providing accessible digital content, such as audio and video recordings, as well as providing alternative formats for written materials. Additionally, we have provided a variety of communication tools, such as video conferencing, to ensure that all students can participate in class discussions and activities. All these resources are offered for free on akademi.al platform.
Making education more inclusive in the digital world has the potential to provide students with disabilities access to educational opportunities that may not be available to them in a traditional classroom setting. This can have a positive impact on students with disabilities by providing them with the opportunity to learn in an environment that is tailored to their individual needs. Additionally, this initiative can help to reduce the stigma associated with disabilities by providing an environment where students with disabilities can interact with their peers without fear of judgement or discrimination.
Online learning can provide access to education for those who may not be able to attend traditional schools due to physical or mental disabilities, financial constraints, or other barriers. It can also provide a more flexible learning environment, allowing students to learn at their own pace and in their own time. Additionally, it can help to reduce the cost of education, as it eliminates the need for physical classrooms and other associated costs.
Community involvement can help to create a sense of ownership and responsibility as they can provide resources, such as funding, to help us, schools and teachers implement inclusion initiatives. Members of the community of students with disabilities have been involved in this initiative and they have provided us with valuable insight into the needs of the students and the challenges they face. We have organized focus groups and questionnaires that helped us ensure that the project was tailored to meet the needs of the students and that it was successful in achieving its goals.
Covid-19 pandemic broke out 6 months after we had launched the first version of akademi.al platform. In March 2020, when the schools were closed, we decided to offer for free all the videos we had on the platform till then. We signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Sports that akademi.al would be the official platform that would be used by teachers and students for the continuance of the learning process. Since the second semester had entered, the graduates were the ones who needed guidance and help before the graduation exams. We signed an agreement with UNICEF Albania and recorded about 1500 educational videos for high school graduates. Subtitles and voice-over were attached to those video-lessons to make them accessible to children with hearing and visual impairments. In October 2020, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kosovo for the Common Digital Platform for Pre-University Education which would be akademi.al.
Later, with the help of Albanian National Association of the Deaf (ANAD), we recorded 1000 educational videos in sign language for students of grades I-IX. All video lessons that are adapted for children with disabilities can be accessed for free on akademi.al platform and on our YouTube channel.
The interaction of disciplines that are reflected in our initiative can include a variety of fields, such as technology, education, psychology, sociology, and special education. Technology is used to create the online platform, while education is used to develop the curriculum and instruction. Psychology and sociology are used to understand the needs of the students and to create an environment that is conducive to learning. Special education is used to ensure that the project meets the needs of all students, regardless of their abilities.
The added value of disciplines reflected in our initiative is that they allow students to access a wide range of educational materials and resources from different disciplines. This can help to broaden their knowledge base and provide them with a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, it can help to foster collaboration between students from different backgrounds and cultures, as well as promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Our initiative is characterized by its innovative approach to teaching and learning. It utilizes technology to create an inclusive learning environment that is accessible to all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Online education encourages students to take ownership of their learning and to develop their own individualized learning plans.
During the pandemic we created a more accessible and equitable learning environment for all students. Home learning was an innovative approach to education that allowed students with special needs to access educational resources from the comfort of their own home. We achieved that by using technology that provided students with the same educational opportunities regardless of their physical location or ability. Students had the opportunity to learn at their own pace and in an environment that is tailored to their individual needs. Our online learning platform has been used to provide students with access to course materials, lectures, virtual classes, and other resources, while also allowing for more personalized instruction and support.
Video Conferencing: A video conferencing tool such as Zoom is integrated in our platform and can be used to facilitate virtual classes, meetings and discussions.
Accessibility: Our initiative provides students with access to a wide range of resources and materials that are accessible to all learners, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, or where they are placed.
Flexibility: Our classes on the platform are designed to be flexible. This could be replicated in other contexts by providing students with access to online learning materials and resources, as well as providing them with the opportunity to access learning materials and resources at their own pace and in their own time.
Network of experts: This could be replicated or transferred to other places by creating a database of experts who can provide advice and support to those looking to implement online inclusion education projects.
Personalized Learning: Our platform where inclusive video lessons are uploaded allows students to customize their learning experience to meet their individual needs.
We intended enhancing our content to be more accessible to physically and intellectually disabled children by collaborating with NGOs and Associations present on the territory to:
1- Add different media-overlays with audio for children with visual impairment- creation of new audio content.
2- Simplify and adjust text for children with intellectual disabilities – adjusted subtitles of existing courses.
3- Add Albanian Sign Language videos for children with hearing impairment – Sign language translation of existing courses.
Adopt relevant changes to the platform considering technical accessibility issues that might arise, specifically to solve compatibility issues with assistive technologies.
Some examples are of how compatibility issues can be solved:
- To provide context and orientation information to provide efficient navigation to inform visually impaired students where they are always, ensuring compatibility with screen-reading or other assistive technologies.
- To allow access to all functionalities from the keyboard alone.
- To provide equivalent visual and auditory content and interface elements (all images, graphics and videos should feature a text description, transcriptions of auditory contentment should be provided as well as text labeling for interface elements included).
- To create tutorials on how to use the platform for visually, hearing and intellectually impaired users.
Other Benefits of ICTs:
- Cost-effective
- Reduces the stress and workload of in-house teachers and educators.
- E-learning courses can be a short-term and emergency solution as education content can be delivered simultaneously in different locations without multiplying the costs.
Making education inclusive in the online environment can help address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and access to quality education. By providing local solutions, such as providing access to educational resources and tools, our initiative can help bridge the digital divide and provide access to quality education for those who may not have access to traditional educational institutions. Additionally, online education can help to reduce the cost of education, making it more accessible to those who may not be able to afford traditional educational institutions.
Specifically:
1. Accessibility: Online education can provide access to educational opportunities for people with disabilities, those living in remote or rural areas, and those with limited financial resources.
2. Equity: Online education can help to reduce disparities in educational outcomes by providing equitable access to quality education for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.
3. Quality: Online education can help to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education, regardless of their location or ability.
Inclusive education has made great strides in recent years. It has become increasingly accessible to students of all backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. This initiative has enabled students to access educational materials and resources from anywhere in the world, regardless of their physical location. It has also allowed educators to create more inclusive learning environments, where students of all backgrounds can learn together. Additionally, online inclusion education has enabled educators to create more personalized learning experiences.
The results our initiative has achieved include:
- Increased access to educational materials: By making eLearning more inclusive, students with disabilities or other special needs can access educational materials more easily.
- Improved student engagement: By providing more accessible eLearning materials, students are more likely to be engaged in the learning process.
- Increased student success: By providing more accessible eLearning materials, students are more likely to succeed in their studies.
- Improved teacher effectiveness
- Increased awareness and understanding of inclusion and diversity.
- Improved attitudes and behaviors towards inclusion and diversity.
- Increased knowledge and skills related to inclusion and diversity.
Additionally, the initiative may lead to increased collaboration and communication between different stakeholders, improved access to resources and support, and increased capacity to create and sustain inclusive environments.
