WALTD

Workshop on Advanced Learning Technologies for Disabled and
Non-Disabled People (WALTD)
at

Workshop on Advanced Learning Technologies for Disabled and Non-Disabled People (WALTD 2009) ICALT 2009: The 9th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies : Learning technologies in the Information society July 14-18, 2009, Riga, Latvia http://www.ask4research.info/icalt/2009/

New Submission Dates
Two-page papers for review for inclusion in the IEEE conference proceedings of ICALT2009
March 3rd, 2009 - Paper submission sent to Dr James Ohene-Djan - j.djan@gold.ac.ukk
March 10th, 2009 - Notification of acceptance

Five page papers describing research related to WALTD for publication in the workshop proceedings
May 1st, 2009 - Paper submission
May 15th, 2009 - Notification of acceptance
May 27, 2009 - Final camera-ready manuscript sent to Dr James Ohene-Djan - j.djan@gold.ac.uk

Workshop Organisers:
*Workshop chairs:*
Emma Bradburn
Centre for Learning & Quality Enhancement,
University of Teesside, United Kingdom
e.bradburn@tees.ac.uk

Dr Marion Hersh
Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering,
University of Glasgow
Telephone: 0141-330 4906
m.hersh@elec.gla.ac.uk

Conference Organiser
Dr James Ohene-Djan
Goldsmiths College, University of London,
New Cross, London, SE14 6NW
Tel: + 44 207 919 7862
j.djan@gold.ac.uk

Workshop Description
Access to education, particularly further and higher education, increases the contribution both disabled and no-disabled people can make to the economy and society. However, many disabled people currently experience numerous barriers in accessing both education and employment and are in an enforced state of dependence, rather than being able to earn their own living and contribute to society. It is therefore important to examine the barriers to increased participation by disabled people in education in order to determine ways to overcome them.

The focus of this workshop will be learning technologies and the associated underlying pedagogies. Computer based and multi-media learning technologies have become particularly important, but there are also very important lower level technologies such as textbooks and multi-purpose technologies such as laboratory equipment. Disabled people often require access to both purely learning technologies, as well as other technologies, in order to obtain the full benefit from education. Although disabled people often experience serious barriers in accessing and getting the greatest benefits from education, there have been advances and there are examples of good practice.

In addition, questions arise concerning the accessibility and usability of learning technologies to disabled and non-disabled users. Accessibility is concerned with the environmental characteristics of the system input and output which either enable or prevent particular groups of users from using the system, whereas usability is the ability of the system to carry out the intended function(s) when used by particular groups of users. Other important issues relate to the cultural appropriateness of the learning content and the availability of learning technologies and the associated documentation in different languages. Related issues include the choice of icons, symbols or abbreviations to denote particular activities or carry out operations. There are also specific cultural and other issues relating to the provision of learning technologies, preferably in the appropriate national sign language for Deaf people.

Three main questions addressed by the workshop

What frameworks and systems exist for designing learning technologies that can be personalized and adapted for users?
What is the current state of the art regarding the development of Advanced Learning Technologies for Disabled and Non-Disabled People?
How are specific challenges related to accessibility and usability of content and presentation in advanced learning technologies currently being addressed and should a design for all approach or design for specific groups of learners approach be taken in the future?
What are the key pedagogical and cultural issues in relation to designing and implementing learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled students?

The expected results of the workshop are

Increased knowledge and understanding of the three main questions addressed by the workshop.
The determination of the research agenda in the area of learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled people.
The development of a network of researchers interested in this area.

Paper Submission Authors are invited to submit two-page papers for review for inclusion in the IEEE conference proceedings of ICALT2009.

Authors are also invited to submit papers of up to 5 pages describing research related to WALTD for publication in the workshop proceedings edited by the workshop chairs.

All papers should be in accessible Microsoft Word format and will be peer-reviewed.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to

The current state of the art in learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled people.
Case studies and examples of good practice in developing learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled students.
Pedagogical issues in relationship to learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled students.
Different approaches to developing learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled students.
Involving or consulting with disabled students when designing and developing learning technologies.
Learning technologies, open and distance learning - accessibility, usability and support issues.
Cultural issues, personal preferences and customisation.
Specific challenges regarding accessibility and usability of content and presentation in learning technologies for disabled and non-disabled people.
Different design approaches to developing learning technologies.

Submission Dates Two-page papers for review for inclusion in the IEEE conference proceedings of ICALT2009.
March 3rd, 2009 - Paper submission sent to Dr James Ohene-Djan - j.djan@gold.ac.uk
March 10th, 2009 - Notification of acceptance

Five page papers describing research related to WALTD for publication in the workshop proceedings
May 1st, 2009 - Paper submission
May 15th, 2009 - Notification of acceptance
May 27, 2009 - Final camera-ready manuscript sent to Dr James Ohene-Djan - j.djan@gold.ac.uk

The workshop is not exclusive to, but is meant especially for the following categories of participants:

Developers, students and educators interested in addressing accessibility and usability issues in the design of advanced learning technologies.
Researchers who want to explore the pedagogical and cultural issues associated with addressing the needs of disabled and non-disabled students using learning technologies.
Students and educators with minimal technical background interested in researching learning technologies as a key factor in giving disabled people opportunities for both personal development and economic independence.

Workshop Organization The workshop will last for 2 and ½ hours.
The workshop will consist of 3 sessions each based on one of the 3 main questions addressed by the workshop
Each session will consist of 10 minute paper presentations followed by a 10 minute interactive discussion.

Program committee Dr Marion Hersh - m.hersh@elec.gla.ac.uk
Dr James Ohene-Djan -j.djan@gold.ac.uk
Ms Saduf Naqvi - s.naqvi@gold.ac.uk
Ms Emma Bradburn - e.bradburn@tees.ac.uk
Matt Harrison MHarrison@portland.ac.uk

Contact Details Please direct any questions on WALTD to
Dr James Ohene-Djan
Lecturer
Department of Computing
Goldsmiths College
University of London
New Cross London
SE14 6NW
Email: j.djan@gold.ac.uk
Tel: 020-7919-7862
Fax: 020-7919-78