Ed-ICT International Network

Funded for three years by The Leverhulme Trust, this International Network is co-organized by Jane Seale (The Open University, UK); Tali Heiman (Open University, Israel); Sheryl Burgstahler (University of Washington, US); Catherine Fichten (Dawson College, Canada) and Björn Fisseler (FernUniversität, Germany).

The Ed-ICT International network is exploring the role that information and communication technologies (ICTs)—including computers, assistive technologies, online learning, social networking sites— play or could play in causing the disadvantage or removing the disadvantage that students with disabilities experience in post-compulsory/post-secondary education generally and specifically in relation to social, emotional, and educational outcomes.

The network also examines the practices required of educators and other stakeholders to mediate successful and supportive relationships between learners with disabilities and ICT. The Network is working to

• synthesize and compare the research evidence that is available across the five countries regarding the relationship between students with disabilities, ICTs and post-compulsory education;
• construct theoretical explanations for why ICTs have not yet brought about the reductions in discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion that were predicted when equality and discrimination related laws were published across the five countries; and
• provide new perspectives about potential future solutions regarding how post-compulsory education institutions can better use ICTs to remove the ongoing problems of disadvantage and exclusion of students with disabilities.

In order to meet these objectives five international symposia will be held over three years with five broad themes:

1. Effective models, frameworks, and approaches
2. Stakeholder roles
3. New designs
4. Effective practices
5. New solutions

More information about each symposium can be found Ed-ICT international network website.