T-16: Holistic Approaches in Education

In advancing inclusive education, leveraging emerging technologies becomes pivotal to enhancing accessibility and promoting universal design in learning environments, particularly for students with disabilities. This paper employs the Uses and Gratification Theory as a framework to examine the dynamic interactions between students with disabilities and digital learning platforms. Exploring how individuals seek and utilize technology to fulfill specific needs and gratifications, this study delves into the multifaceted roles that technologies play in inclusive education.

Supporting early-career teachers in developing skills for emotional exploration and regulation is key to fostering long-term success in education. With high attrition rates among new teachers, innovative tools are needed to better prepare them for classroom realities. This presentation explores the use of Virtual Reality (VR) as a reflective tool in teacher education programs. Designed as a community co-constructed project that actively involves pre-service and in-service teachers, the VR tool aims to strengthen collective wisdom around emotional regulation. This session highlights project insights, shares early results, and invites feedback on how VR can enhance professional integration.

While digital competencies are essential for student learning, socialization, inclusion, and future employment, paper still has an important role to play in pedagogy and sustainability. This presentation outlines three main reasons why we should incorporate paper in the classroom: 1. Working on paper increases active engagement with course content; 2. Younger generations are actively looking to reduce screen time to counter digital overload and its effects on mental health; and 3. The proliferation of digital content is becoming unsustainable.