Challenges and Opportunities in Inclusive Education with ICT: Teachers’ Perspectives in the Canary Islands during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study intends to explore the challenges and opportunities in inclusive education using Information and Technologies (ICTs) during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of teachers based in the Canary Islands. It focuses on the digital division and the implications involved while examining the impact of health on students with special needs (SEN) and Specific Educational Support Needs (SENS). For this research, a validated questionnaire was used to assess educators’ perceptions and attitudes toward the use of ICT in inclusive education practices. It reveals insights into the need for enhanced ICT training, age and gender disparities perceived in ICT proficiency, and the essential role of continuous professional development for teachers. The study highlights the importance of developing inclusive and comprehensive training strategies, as well as the need for educational institutions to provide effective digital resources and platforms. The findings show that students perceive both their ICT skills and the effectiveness of remote teaching methods as moderate, thus emphasizing the necessity for strategic interventions and collaborative efforts to enhance digital competencies in this educational sector.

What Is Known about Assistive Technologies in Distance and Digital Education for Learners with Disabilities?

“…In the case of the educational inclusion of people with special needs, distance education can become a real opportunity to actively participate in learning along with the rest of the population [20,21]. Such a process, according to the information provided, should be accompanied by educational designs and assistive technologies that balance the inequalities of social and family origins of people with special educational needs, the differences in pedagogical capacities for technology-mediated education, and skills in the use of emerging technologies designed for various types of disability [22][23][24].…”