IMAS II
Improving Assistance in Inclusive Educational Settings.
Development and Evaluation of web-based knowledge-boxes for enhancing inclusive competences of learning and support assistants
The European Union has ratified the UN-CRPD obliging State Parties to ensure an inclusive educational system at all levels (Article 24). All children and young people rely on teachers and non-teaching staff to enable their learning and participation in school. For disabled children and young people, non-teaching staff (learning and support assistants) play a vital role in enabling them to successfully engage in every aspect of compulsory and post compulsory education. The previous project IMAS I showed that the working conditions of assistants are characterized by high workloads, little job security, low status in school hierarchies and low qualifications. Based on these findings, the follow-up project IMAS II wants to ensure the further development and strengthening inclusive competences of learning and support assistants.
The aim of the project is to develop 5 web-based knowledge boxes to different topics (e.g. ASD, ADHD, etc.) and to conceive a blended-learning format. These knowledge boxes include videos, power-point presentations, quizzes, etc. which enable an easy and quick way for learning and support assistants to expand their knowledge and to enhance inclusive competences for their practical work. The effects of the knowledge boxes will be evaluated by a participatory research with children and assistants (interviews). This research method will give children voice and opportunities to express themselves Developing evaluation sheets for the further evaluation of assistance services Establishing a transnational network of assistants for the further development and improving inclusive competences.
This project is funded under Erasmus + (2018-1-AT01-KA202-039302)
IO1: Knowledge Boxes; IO 2: participatory research with children; IO 3: Evaluation
- Establishing a European Network for improving assistance and strengthening the way to an inclusive educational system
- Web-based knowledge boxes and blended learning platform for further development and improving inclusive competences of paraprofessionals and professionals to ensure quality of assistance
- Academic publications about the Intellectual Outputs Conferences, Stakeholder Workshops to disseminate the output
The project consortium consists of a social service provider and a university in most of the partner countries: Coordinator: University of Graz
Partners:
Austria - University of Graz; Chance B
Slovakia - University of Trnava;TENENET o.z.
Bulgaria - Agency VISION;
Portugal - CES; ARCIL
UK - CSIE
Belgium - EASPD
Social Service Providers from Austria, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Portugal and United Kingdom provide services for people with disabilities. They will be mainly responsible for developing the knowledge boxes.
The Universities with expertise in inclusive education are characterized by research activities in the field of empirical educational research. They will be mainly responsible for the research activities and academic publications.
EASPD is a European umbrella organization of social service providers for people with disabilities well connected on the level of social service providers as well as at the European policy level. EASPD plays an important role in the dissemination process and organizing the multiplier event.