The IncludED Conversation

Julia Clouter from Scanning Pens shares her career-long experience of how technology can support inclusive approaches to supporting Literacy and the wider curriculum.

Inclusion from far and wide with Text help's Paddy McGrath covers a wide range of inclusive experiences. Ranging from the recently published PedTech Impact report, which Text Help and LGfL supported, to using AR to reveal unexpected outcomes with learners to exploring inclusions in the broadest sense in Belfast schools. It's a fascinating discussion that gives hope for a positive, inclusive future in education.

In this episode of The Included Conversation, we talk to Dr Sarah Mosely about what inclusion means to her and discuss her ideas for inclusive approaches to literacy development for both teacher and learners. Sarah gives her top suggestions on how to remove barriers and how  to support the learner as both creator, audience and author. The role of blogging is also explored and how we can set up ‘meet the author sessions' even if the author is within the class! Immersive technology to stimulate literacy work is also discussed in this inspiring discussion to get learners reading, writing and developing a sense of audience for their literacy work.

Welcome to the IncludED Conversation - expert insights into inclusive practice for all. Hosted by Bob Usher from LGfL and Inclusion specialists John Galloway and Carol Allen, this podcast channel aims to share the views on inclusion of key members of the  education community. Regular episodes will explore the latest inclusive thinking, challenges and opportunities with lead practitioners from schools / colleges, forward thinking suppliers to education and educational leaders from key institutions So whether you are from a Primary School, Secondary Special, Special school, Hospital school, Pupil Referral Unit, Further Education or a home schooling context we aim to help develop our collective understanding on how we can all be more inclusive in our everyday teaching practice.

We meet the remarkable Khamani Edwards, the 18-year-old award-winning entrepreneur who lives with a physical disability called Dystonia that affects his mobility. He is the CEO of KJ’s Craft Time and refuses to let his disability define him and his aspirations in life.

We join Jo Dilworth, Co - CEO of the Appeer Network and discuss innovative approaches to supporting autistic girls and women. We explore how to manage differences and support all learners consistently featuring examples of good practice with advice for parents as well as educational practitioners.

In this episode of 'The Included Conversation', we meet with Alice Lacey of 'Now Press Play' and explore the role of audio in education. Featuring examples from the LGfL Space Adventures resource, we discuss the role of audio to enhance, immerse and even possibly scare learners. Managed audio through the latest technology is explored ending with advice for teachers on how to incorporate the full potential of audio in everyday teaching and learning.

In this edition, we meet up with long-term LGfL partners' Listening Books and explore the role of audiobooks and their place in an inclusive approach for all learners.

 Immersive technology or immersive content? Which are we talking about? In this episode, we explore the difference between immersive technology and content and how they interrelate, The potential for immersive approaches to teaching and learning are also explored and we find that solutions don't always need to cost a lot of money or require high technology! New technologies that allow learners to express themselves through the creation of immersive experiences are also discussed including a reference to the Discovery Education Sandbox AR platform. Apple Vision Pro is definitely NOT discussed though, as that was launched after this recording was filmed.

Award-winning senior leaders from Whitefield and FlakeFleet Primary School discuss their approaches to building truly inclusive school communities and openly share their achievements, challenges and aspirations for the future.

In this episode of the included conversation, we talk to Caroline Wright, Director General of the British Education Suppliers Association (BESA) about what inclusion means to her and within the context of her role at BESA.  We look at how BESA helps supports the development of inclusive practice within the membership of the association and how the British EdTech sector has led the way in developing inclusive technology and content to support for all learners. We identify how BESA has helped support the sector whilst upholding its own values whilst also supporting commercial success within the education sector for members. We discuss how how BESA acts as an intermediary between government, the education supply sector and teachers in schools / colleges and what role do the BESA specialist groups have in promoting inclusion within and across all BESA members; and we even talk about BESA's role in relation to ensuring the efficacy of research into the effectiveness of EdTech products.

In this episode of The Included Conversation, we talk to Dame Professor Alison Peacock – CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching. We discuss how can we help teachers to be truly inclusive in their approach to teaching. We explore how to create learning environments that are truly inclusive and the extent to which the curriculum is a constraint to inclusive approaches to learning. We discuss whether we can be optimistic about the future of the education system for teachers and learners and how can we manage technology effectively in a learning context without it distracting. And we end on how can we help new teachers entering the profession to think in an inclusive way at the start of their career.

In this episode of the Included conversation, we meet Dr Fiona Aubery-Smith creator of the concept of  PedTech and our LGfL development partner in the for the LGfL PedTech portal which supports effective Teaching and Learning with Technology.  We discuss what Inclusion means to Fiona and how we can support teachers to adopt a truly inclusive mindset which has been proven to be more effective than adopting a deficit model framework. We debate the perceived or real constraints of working with the current education system and explore the benefits of mainstream teachers engaging with SEND provision and vice versa. We ask the question of how much 'agency' do teachers really have in their everyday practice and how does this impact on their inclusive practice? It’s a fast-paced and challenging discussion but one that should make us all reflect on our day-to-day pedgogy for the benefit of all learners.