[Panayiota]

Osmo Genius Kit: Osmo is an educational gaming system that uses a combination of physical objects and digital apps to enhance learning. The Genius Kit includes various games that cover subjects such as math, spelling, and problem-solving. Students interact with the games using tangible objects like letter tiles or number cards, which are detected and tracked by the Osmo base and iPad camera. Osmo promotes active learning, creativity, and collaboration, making it suitable for use in primary school classrooms to supplement traditional teaching methods.

[Panayiota]

Using technology for the real inclusion of students with special needs can offer several advantages, but it also comes with its own set of pitfalls. Let’s explore both:
Advantages:

Easy Access: Technology helps students with special needs by offering tools like screen readers, speech-to-text, and magnification tools, making it easier for them to learn.

Tailored Learning: Technology allows learning to be customized to each student’s abilities. This means they get the right level of challenge and support they need.

Independent Learning: With tech, students can do tasks on their own, like accessing learning materials or talking to teachers, without always needing help.

Inclusive Environment: By using tech in class, all students can join in and learn together. It makes learning more accessible and encourages teamwork.

More Resources: Technology gives access to lots of learning tools and materials that suit different ways of learning.

Pitfalls:

New Barriers: Sometimes, technology can make things harder if it’s not made with everyone in mind. For instance, some websites or apps might not work well with tools that help students with disabilities.

Too Dependent on Tech: Relying too much on tech might stop students from learning important skills. For example, if they always use speech-to-text, they might not learn how to type properly.

Feeling Alone: Using a lot of tech can sometimes make students feel lonely. They might spend too much time online and not enough with friends in person.

Expensive and Hard to Manage: Getting and keeping up with technology can be costly, especially for schools with limited money. It can also be tough to make sure everything works smoothly.

Privacy Worries: Using tech in school can raise worries about keeping students’ information safe, especially for those who need extra help or have sensitive details stored online.

So, while technology can help students with special needs a lot, it’s important to think about both the good things and the challenges it brings. It needs teamwork between teachers, tech experts, and others to make sure it helps everyone learn well.

[Panayiota]

Hello everyone! Welcome to the SPice Community of Practice. We are delighted to collaborate and discuss topics of interest concerning Inclusive STEAM Education.

My name is Panayiota Christodoulidou, and I live and work in Cyprus. I am a Research Associate at the University of Cyprus for the Spice Project and one of the moderators of the Spice COP community. I obtained a PhD in Inclusive Education from the Institute of Education, UCL in London, UK. In addition to my teaching duties at various universities in Cyprus and the UK, for the last 10 years, I have also been involved in teaching programs of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Culture (MOEC) in Cyprus, providing support to students with learning difficulties and disabilities. My research interests focus on inclusive and special needs education, as well as innovative educational policies and practices. I also have a keen interest in STEAM education for students in Special Education and I am working on the design and implementation of Inclusive STEAM practices in mainstream classrooms. I believe that such education can motivate all students to learn and can enhance their academic achievements.

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by Panayiota.

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