FutureLab - Learners are key to solving inequality in education

A new handbook from Futurelab shows how learners can play a key role in the design of educational technology, and so help tackle growing inequalities in education. Funded by CfBT Education Trust and launched today by Baroness Estelle Morris, ‘Designing Educational Technologies for Social Justice’ explores the role that digital technologies can play in reducing inequality in education and offers guidance on designing educational resources that benefit disadvantaged learners.

A key message from the handbook to developers, teachers and other education practitioners such as community groups is that, in order to design educational technology and projects to reduce inequality, you have to involve those using it throughout the design process. A tokenistic gesture – user testing an idea once development is under way or complete – will not suffice. Designers are also urged to avoid simply reusing technologies and projects that have worked in the past - what works in one place and with one group of people may not work well in a new environment.

Author: FutureLab, 2nd April 2008

Full article available here.