Special Educational Needs and the Internet: Issues for the Inclusive Classroom

by Chris Abbott (Editor)

Overview

With Internet access for every school now a reality, teachers are beginning to explore the use of the Internet in the education of children with special needs. This book describes its benefits for children across the spectrum of special educational needs, from those with physical disabilities or sensory impairment to those with learning or social difficulties.
With contributions from leading practitioners in the field, this book addresses the huge range of possibilities the Internet and associated technology offer for these pupils. Combining current theory and debate with practical guidance and inspiring case studies, this book considers:
* how the Internet can be used to gather and publish information
* how to communicate effectively through technology
* policy and management issues for schools
* the continuing challenges for access and inclusion.
This book will be of interest to all teachers involved in special education needs, in both mainstream and special schools.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134497102
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/02/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dr Chris Abbott teaches at King's College, University of London and is one of the most prominent names in the field of ICT and SEN. He also writes regularly for the Online section of the TES.

Table of Contents

1. Making the Internet Special Part I: Gathering and Publishing Information 2. Making the Web Special 3. Developing the School Website as a Tool for Learning 4. The British Museum COMPASS Website and Learners with Specialist Needs 5. Inclusion and the Web: Strategies for Improving Access Part II: Communicating with Others 6. Making Communication Special 7. Spike the Bear and an Online Special School 8. Literacy and Communication Through ICT and the Internet for Deaf Children 9. Swanseekers: Using Stories to Develop Online Environmental Education Part III: Policy and Management Issues 10. Making Broadband Special 11. A Passion for Excellence 12. Supporting SEN Teachers: Management and Policy Issues 13. Developing an LEA Website to Support the Inclusion Process 14. Inclusion Through ICT - the Wider View 15. Moving Forward

Editorial Reviews

'A fantastic book about the over-arching possibilities of the Web for the widest possible spectrum of learning needs ... It really is a throrough and convincing argument for the need for well designed and accessible materials to be uploaded onto educational websites, chief amongst them the school and college websites that serve a network of local students. Highly recommended.' - Will Pearson

'This is a very useful, easy-to-read book ... It meets the needs of a range of readers ... [and] would be an excellent resource book for psychologists.' - Division of Educational and Child Psychologists

'An enlightening book which explores the... vast amount of valuable information which is now on the Internet.

'or '

'An essential book which should be on every school shelf - also great for parents who want to know more.' - Caroline Hensby, Adders Organisation

'The book offers stimulating coverage of the history of the Internet for children with special needs ... The book's strength lies in its sensitive discussion of the issues. A very welcome feature is the list of acronyms: many more educational publications could benefit from this.' - Sally Newman, TES

'Reading the book everything seems to be quite possible and indeed you wonder why more people don't make use of more technology to develop an inclusive classroom.' - Sally McKeown, Special Children

' A fantastic book about the over-arching possibilities of the Web for the widest possible spectrum of learning needs ... It really is a throrough and convincing argument for the need for well designed and accessible materials to be uploaded onto educational websites, chief amongst them the school and college websites that serve a network of local students. Highly recommended.' - Will Pearson, Pre-16 Technology Officer, R.N.I.B. Education and Employment Network Centre, Nottingham

'This is a much needed book providing an overview of good practice in using the resources of the Internet to extend and enhance the learning of children with SEN, both in special schools and inclusive mainstream environments ... [A] treasure chest of exciting and practical ideas for using the web to find ICT solutions for SEN.' - Judith Stansfield, SEN ICT Consultant, NASEN ICT Group

'Lucid yet rigorous, the editor ... has brought together ideas and experiences from classroom practitioners, head teachers and national educational organisations to provide a broad vision about Internet and email within special schools.' - Sally McKeown, TES Online

'This book provides inspiration and clear guidance for SEN teachers who are seriously committed to establishing sound policies and practices for the use of the Internet in their schools ... It is a book that would be particularly useful for ICT and literacy coordinators, those in senior management and those who may still need convincing that ICT and the Internet offer enormous benefits to young people with special educational needs.' - Pauline Dalling, Support for Learning

'The book would be most useful as a specialist resource and would be essential reading for managers and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators with an interest in the use of ICT as well as ICT co-ordinators at both the primary and secondary level.' - Educational Psychology in Practice

'This is a very useful, easy-to-read book ... It meets the needs of a range of readers ... [and] would be an excellent resource book for psychologists.' - Division of Educational and Child Psychologists

From the Publisher