Based on a recent report by the European Association for International Education (EAIE), there is a high demand for providing universities with guidelines and access to effective practices that better support disadvantaged learners (Rumbley, 2020).

 

The accessibility and use of digital technology are greatly influenced by the use of appropriate educational pedagogies, educators’ attitudes and competencies, and larger societal contexts. To address the challenges and remove obstacles to learning, especially for those more severely exposed to the ‘digital divide’, certain strategies can be employed. Specifically, when it comes to removing obstacles to learning and meeting the requirements of students, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework provides an essential basis for course design and delivery to address digital exclusion issues (Ismailov & Chiu, 2022).

 

What is Digital4All Toolkit?

 

The Digital4All Toolkit provides instructions on how academics, learning designers, and teaching staff can design more inclusive digital teaching. The toolkit is based on a literature review, focus group interviews, and a survey about the good practices, policies, challenges and needs conducted across the five partner countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland).

The Toolkit provides resources that guide teaching professionals to reflect on the extent of equity and inclusion in their HEIs. It also presents concrete ideas, actions, and tools for systematically addressing issues and barriers of equity. Academics, learning designers, and teaching staff can find inspiration in enhancing inclusive digital learning for all.

It is divided into three sections:

• SELFIE Checklist adapted for Higher Education Practitioners (SELFIE tool), which can be used by the users to reflect on the extent of equity and what is missing from achieving inclusion in digital learning contexts.
• Step-by-step guide on digital inclusion, which is a simple practical guide for systematically addressing issues and barriers of equity in digital learning environments.
• 25 Best practices in the field of inclusion in digital teaching and learning

Learn more about the Toolkit

To explore the Digital4All Toolkit and discover practical strategies for creating inclusive digital education, click here [LINK].