Tool for Digital Inclusion in Italian Schools: The Use of Self-Assessment Framework from ENTELIS Project.

The use of technology in education has the potential to create more inclusive environments for all students, including those with disabilities. In Italy, the Ministry of Education has recognized the importance of digital literacy in schools and has issued several documents outlining the steps necessary to build a more inclusive educational system. However, in order to achieve these goals, it is important to assess the current situation and identify areas for improvement. The Entelis Self-assessment framework, particularly the Italian short version, can be used as a tool to help schools assess their digital inclusion practices and develop strategies for improvement. In 2015, the Ministry of Education issued the new Law 107/2015, called "La Buona Scuola", which included the New National Plan on School Digital Literacy - PNSD (MIUR, 2015) and the Three-year plan of in-service teachers' education and training. These documents aimed to consolidate the path of innovation and digitization in schools through a strategy that invested in the technological, epistemological, and cultural dimensions. The PNSD focused on the initial and in-service training of teachers, recognizing that educational innovation through digital technologies requires a reformulation of traditional teaching-learning methods to include pedagogical accessibility and inclusion. However, the success of these initiatives depends on the readiness of teachers to implement new technologies in their classrooms. The European Union (EU) identified teacher training as a critical factor for the success of ICT-related educational innovation in 2003. Teachers themselves recognize the need for training, with TALIS results (OEDC, 2014) showing that the need for training related to teaching with information and communication technology (ICT) skills and using new technologies in the workplace was a priority for teachers.

Analysing Italian Inclusive Education Practices in Relation to Universal Design for Learning Principles.

This study aims to investigate how teaching practices in the Italian inclusive education system align with the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which is aimed at providing access to education for all students, including those with disabilities. In line with Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which requires states to promote Universal Design (UD) in all aspects of life, including education, this research examines the extent to which the Italian education system meets this requirement. The study involved teachers who participated in a course on inclusive education. The research was conducted in three phases, including the introduction of UDL, identification of teachers' perceptions and initial reactions to UDL, compilation of a questionnaire related to UDL checkpoints, and a focus group discussion on teachers' attitudes towards UDL and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the classroom. The analysis focused on the first UDL principle, "Provide Multiple Means of Representation," which emphasizes the need to present information in an accessible way to learners with disabilities. The findings revealed that despite not having previous training on UDL, teachers in the Italian inclusive education system use ICTs in their daily teaching practices to make knowledge accessible, which is in line with the UDL principles. However, the study also highlighted a lack of awareness and reflection on the use of ICTs in teaching, suggesting the need for specific training to enhance inclusive practices. This study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on inclusive education in Italy and highlights the importance of promoting UD principles in education to ensure that all learners, regardless of their abilities, have equal access to education. Furthermore, it underscores the significance of providing adequate training and support to teachers to facilitate inclusive practices and improve learning outcomes for all students.

ICT and UD: Preliminary Study for Recommendations to Design Accessible University Courses.

Starting from the Universal Design in the educational context principles, the experiences gained during the FIRB project "Net@ccessibility" and the high-education courses for teachers' specialization on special education, this research will focus on preliminary studies in order to define the recommendations for designing accessible university courses.