1. Dr Val Chapman [National Teaching Fellow] Director, Centre for Inclusive Learning Support University of Worcester UK Introducing SCIPS - a web based resource that helps teachers support disabled students’ learning UNICA SEMINAR: Equality and Diversity in HE Sep 27/28 2007 Brussels

2. 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

3. 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

4. SCIPS web based resource www.scips.worc.ac.uk www.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

5. 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

6. SCIPSSCIPS structure Browse by: Browse by: Browse by: Subject Subject and Disability Disability 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

7. 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

10. QATRAINQATRAIN www.qatrain.euwww.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

12. 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

13. 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

15. LearnHigherLearnHigher 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’

16. ‘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.

17. 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

18. 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.