Creating an Inclusive Classroom: Approaches to Supporting Learners with SEND in Computing

As educators, we should aim to provide every young person with the skills and knowledge to become active participants in a digital world. In this course, you will examine the common barriers faced by students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the computing classroom, and how to address these barriers. You will explore a number of general approaches and specific computing activities that will help to include and engage learners.

This course will support teachers who want to create a more inclusive computing classroom for all of their students.

This course covers:

• An outline of the four broad areas of need, and of the common barriers faced by learners with SEND
• General classroom approaches to include learners with SEND and reduce cognitive load in activities
• Advice on how to create more accessible teaching resources
• Specific approaches to support learners with SEND in programming tasks
• An overview of how to make programming environments more accessible
• The benefits of sensory outputs and using physical computing devices