New methods in education of the disabled EdukON online project

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New methods in education of the disabled-
EdukON on-line project

• Lucja Kornaszewska
• Olga Lodyga
• Patrycja Pochwalska

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Facts on education and professional activity of
the disabled in Poland

• unequal educational opportunities,
• low level of education among the disabled,
• education inadequate to labour market demands,
• low professional activity indicator among the
  disabled.
• Source Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
  Services

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Facts on education and professional activity of
the disabled in Poland

• There are 5.5 million disabled people in Poland.
• 84 of them live on social benefits.
• Only 8 of this social group have work as their
  main maintenance source.
• Almost half of the disabled only have a primary
  school level of education.
• Most disabled people work in supported work
  places.
• Source Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
  Services

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Disability and the level of education
Source Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Services
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Level of education and chances to find a job
Source Polish Institute of Social Affairs, 2007
(Instytut Spraw Publicznych)
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Employing the disabled obstacles
Source Polish Institute of Social Affairs, 2007
(Instytut Spraw Publicznych)
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New educational methods

• methods using multimedia
• methods using ICT
• E-learning
• Blended learning

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E-learning (E-education)

• is a form of distance learning in which
  communication between the trainer/teacher and
  the student is conducted with the use of ICT.

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E-learning method
University
Student
Communication
Data base
Server
Student
Procedures
Teacher/Trainer
Student
Source T. Komorowski, Models of teaching,
http//www.cnz.univ.szczecin.pl/_elearning/learn_4
.php
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Advantages of e-learning

• availability of the learning material regardless
  of time and space,
• developing habits of systematic learning,
• individualized learning path,
• interactive methods of conveying knowledge,
• opportunity to use multimedia simulations of
  phenomena and processes,
• convenient learning method for the disabled.

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Disadvantages of e-learning

• necessity of having an Internet connection,
• problems with motivation and self-discipline of
  the trainees,
• narrowed possibilities of interaction between the
  students,
• contact with teachers/trainers only via Internet.

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Blended-learning

• This method links distance education with
  traditional learning. It embraces on-site
  workshops and on-line activities.

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Blended-learning method
University
Student
Communication
Server
Data base
Students
Procedures
Student
Teacher/trainer
On-site workshops
Source T. Komorowski, Models of teaching,
http//www.cnz.univ.szczecin.pl/_elearning/learn_4
.php
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Advantages of blended-learning

• linking on-site workshops with on-line
  activities,
• possibility of achieving similar knowledge level
  within the group,
• interactive learning process,
• convenient learning method for the disabled,
• possibility of monitoring the activities of every
  trainee,
• availability of the learning material regardless
  of time and space,

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Advantages of blended-learning

• elasticity of the learning process,
• using multimedia to convey knowledge,
• widening the circle of students,
• spreading computer literacy,
• opportunity to use multimedia simulations of
  various phenomena and processes.

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New educational methods and telework

• Telework requires special attitude from the
  employees. New learning methods are a good start
  for a future teleworker because they enable
  him/her to gain
• qualifications adjusted to the open labour market
  demands,
• experience of using ICT tools,
• soft skills, e.g. self-motivation,
  self-discipline, time management, communication
  within a virtual group.

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Telework - a chance for the disabled

• Advantages
• for disabled employees
• Opportunity to leave the social ghetto
• Payment for results, not per hour
• Elasticity of work time and space no need to
  commute
• Opportunity to work for more than one employer
• More independence at work
• Less stress at work, more satisfaction,
• Lessening social and technical barriers (e.g.
  communication).

• Advantages
• for employers
• Minimizing costs (e.g. of adjusting the
  workplace, sick leaves)
• Payment for results, not per hour
• Lessening social and technical barriers (e.g.
  communication).

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Telework - experiences of the Foundation

• Permanent job - comprehensive IT services,
• Task-based jobs - employees responsible for
  making our courses suitable for the needs and
  possibilities of the disabled
• Authors
• Experts
• Voice-recording specialists
• Teaching methodology specialists.

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Goals of the EdukON on-line project

• Professional empowerment of the disabled
• Spreading computer literacy
• Enhancing IT skills
• Teaching computer graphics
• Promoting entrepreneurship
• Promoting distance education
• Promoting the employment of the disabled on the
  open labour market (e.g. by showing alternative
  forms of employment - like telework)

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Courses in EdukON on-line project

• Introduction to e-learning,
• 2-years' Graphic Design College (our flagship
  product)
• Preparation for the ECDL and ECDL-A exams,
• MS Office advanced (plus MS Visio MS Project)
• Adobe Creative Suite Premium,
• Macromedia Studio 8,
• Implementation of ICT in small and medium
  enterprises
• Promoting the employment of the disabled on the
  open market (e.g. information on public support
  for the employers),
• European Structural Funds support for small and
  medium enterprises.

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Qualifications covered by EdukON on-line courses

• MS Office basic and advanced,
• Computer graphics,
• Project management basics,
• European Social Fund creating and managing
  projects,
• E-business.

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Methods of making our courses suitable for the
disabled

• The courses are adjusted to the needs of the
  disabled on two levels
• themes
• methods of their delivery (both in on-site and
  e-learning).

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Methods of making our courses suitable for the
disabled

• The following instruments are used
• recorded instructions and voice synthesizer,
  clear layout and proper colours,
• accessible course navigation tools,
• recruitment process workshop participants
  chosen accordingly to the level of educational
  needs and possibilities (to avoid considerable
  differences in learning pace within the group)

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Methods of making our courses suitable for the
disabled

• The following instruments are used
• method and pace of delivering the material to the
  group adjusted for its participants
• tutoring flexible time of individual meetings
• computer equipment at workshops suitable for
  people with various types of disability

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References

• Akademia on-line. Redakcja naukowa J. Mischke,
  Wyzsza Szkola Humanistyczno-Ekonomiczna w Lodzi,
  Lódz 2005.
• E-learning w ksztalceniu akademickim. Pod
  redakcja M. Dabrowskiego i M. Zajac, Fundacja
  Promocji i Akredytacji Kierunków Ekonomicznych,
  Warszawa 2006.
• M. Hyla, Przewodnik po e-learningu, Oficyna
  Ekonomiczna Kraków 2005.

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References

• Informatyka w globalnym swiecie. Redakcja naukowa
  J. Kisielnicki, Wydawnictwo PJWSTK, Warszawa
  2006.
• Rozwój e-edukacji w ekonomicznym szkolnictwie
  wyzszym. Pod redakcja M. Dabrowskiego i M. Zajac,
  Fundacja Promocji i Akredytacji Kierunków
  Ekonomicznych, Warszawa 2005.

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References

• http//portal.idn.org.pl/idn
• http//www.cnz.univ.szczecin.pl
• http//www.dsb.pl
• http//www.edukon.pl
• http//www.e-gamma.pl/internet/telepraca.htm
• http//europa.eu.int/information_society/ecowor/ew
  ork/index_en.htm European Information Society
• http//www.e3work.com European Comission portal
  on telework
• http//www.isp.org.pl

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References

• http//www.mpips.gov.pl
• http//www.mynetwork.pl
• http//www.oracle.com
• http//www.telework.com,
• http//www.wiedzanet.pl
• http//www.4system.pl
• http//www.telepraca-equal.pl
• http//www.telepraca.idn.org.pl
• http//www.sibis-eu.org/statistics/stat_ind.htm
• http//www.sustel.org European Comission
  research project on telework

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Thank you for your attention