Contribution of ICT, in particular of Adapted Personal Learning Environments (adPLE), for the Improvement of Learning in Individuals with Special Educational Needs

Abstract

For students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) represents a unique opportunity to access the curriculum, which would otherwise be inaccessible. The emergence of Web 2.0 has ushered in the potential for flexibility and personalized learning, leading to the evolution of Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) into Personal Learning Environments (PLE). These PLEs offer student-centric, easily reachable, and adaptable learning experiences, especially beneficial to students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Considering the unique characteristics of this disability category, our aim is to explore the contribution of adapted Personal Learning Environment (adPLE) in enhancing educational outcomes for students with IDD.

Framed within a comparative matrix, this study takes the form of an empirical investigation aiming to describe the impact of ICT on the learning of individuals with SEN across the in the public, private and cooperative educational systems in Portugal.