Dr Val Chapman [National Teaching Fellow]

Director, Centre for Inclusive Learning SupportUniversity of Worcester UK

Introducing SCIPS -a web based resource that helps teachers

support disabled students’ learning

UNICA SEMINAR: Equality and Diversity in HESep 27/28 2007

Brussels

Session aim:

To introduce the SCIPS online resource which: offers strategies for promoting inclusive

teaching, learning and assessment identifies potential challenges that disabled

students may experience in achieving or demonstrating key skills and attributes

gives strategies and adjustments to practice that teachers/trainers might consider in helping students overcome these challenges

Improving the Learning Experience of Disabled

Students

Sources of funding:

SCIPS: A web-based resource that provides Strategies for Creating Inclusive Programmes of Study

Leonardo da Vinci Funded project QATRAIN LearnHigher Centre for Excellence in

Learning and Teaching Higher Education Academy (HEA) disability

project, Developing Inclusive Curricula in Higher Education

SCIPS web based resourcewww.scips.worc.ac.uk

HEFCE-funded disability project (Jan 03 –Dec 04)

Inclusive approaches for disabled students Special Educational Needs and Disability Act

(SENDA), 2001, (DDA part 4) Identification and removal of barriers to

participation in all areas, including L&T Lessons from Australia Dearth of subject specific resources for

teaching disabled students

Staff concerns:

Open to changing practices to include disabled learners

Personal liability under the Disability Discrimination Act (UK)

Lack of confidence in what should/could be done to make reasonable adjustments

Maintenance of academic standards

SCIPS structureBrowse by: Browse by: Browse by:

SubjectSubject and

DisabilityDisability

Description of Subject

from Benchmark Statement

(QAA)

Full Description of Characteristics of

Disability

Characteristics Impacting on Learning and

Teaching

Brief Description of Characteristics of

Disability

General Teaching Strategies relating to

the disability

Specific subject information for the

disability

link

Database content Information generated by project team

inputs and vetting by chairs of benchmarking teams

some new information some collated & acknowledged

Quality control Spot checks Testers and reviewers Online feedback

QATRAIN www.qatrain.eu

Quality Assurance and Accessible Training Leonardo da Vinci funded project, Oct 05-Sept

07 Partners: Bulgaria, France, Greece and Poland UK site extended to include 6 more subjects,

some at FD level (Geography and Psychology) Australian interest Further European bids

Additional subjects – European partners’ sites

Phase 1 Computing science Economics Pedagogy English language Maths Statistics &

OR

Phase 2 Physiotherapy Political science Sociology International

Foundation Diploma

Subjects on UK SCIPS site

Computing; Dance, Drama &

Performance; English; Hospitality, Leisure,

Sport and Tourism; Mathematics, Statistics &

Operational Research; Music; Nursing; Physiotherapy; Social Work; Veterinary Science;

Geography; Psychology; Learning Assistant (FD); Early Years (FD); Manufacturing Management (FD); International Foundation Diploma;

Forthcoming 07/08: Sociology + 5 more

Successful Requests SCIPS - UK Pre QATRAIN and QATRAIN - SCIPS UK - BG - GK - FR - PL

Oct 04 - July 07

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

Oct-0

4

Dec-0

4

Feb-0

5

Apr-05

Jun-0

5

Aug-05

Oct-0

5

Dec-0

5

Feb-0

6

Apr-06

Jun-0

6

Aug-06

Oct-0

6

Dec-0

6

Feb-0

7

Apr-07

Jun-0

7

Aug-07

Month and Year

No

of

req

ue

sts

pe

r m

on

th

Total sucessful requests for SCIPS pages = 5,644,123

Requests for SCIPS Pre QATRAIN

LearnHigher CETL

16 partner HEIs 20 ‘learning areas’ April 2005 –April 2010 Development of resources to support

staff development Extension of SCIPS web based resource Disability database Staff development materials UW’s focus:

‘Learning for All’

‘Developing Inclusive Curricula in Higher Education’

Higher Education Academy Project, UK

One of 10 HEA supported projects 5 x disability and 5 x widening participation Sept 2007- Dec 2008 Aims:

To improve the learning experience of disabled students in Higher Education;

To further embed effective inclusive practices in learning, teaching, assessment and curriculum design throughout all academic departments within the University of Worcester (UW) and relevant departments in its partner colleges.

The good news….

QATRAIN 2 Leonardo da Vinci Funding SCIPS extended to enable teachers and trainers

involved in post 16 vocational education and training (VET) to better support the needs of disabled learners

Learner activity-based rather than subject-based Partners: UK, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey Nov 2007 –Oct 2009

Why do geese fly further and faster than eagles?

They fly in flocks and the updraft from the beat of each pair of wings from the bird in front supports the flight of the others following. The geese fly V formation taking it in turns to lead and share the biggest workload.