STIT Toolkit - Lesson Planner for Designing Inclusive and Accessible Learning Activities for All Students

Aims of the tool

The multilingual (EN/IT/ES/RO) STIT Toolkit gathers several inclusive and accessible elements:

- It is based on the idea that educational resources (e.g., content or course designs) should allow anyone to freely access, retain (e.g., download, duplicate, store), reuse, revise (e.g., translate, adapt, modify), combine, and/or share them.
- It enables teachers/tutors to activate work organization dynamics (both autonomous and group) potentially much more efficiently than traditional lectures.
- It empowers VET staff to delve into relevant topics such as accessibility, inclusivity, and new approaches to create a better teaching and learning environment for all.
- It supports teachers, educators, and tutors in creating their own lessons by using and combining tools and solutions already developed and tested by other experts.

In doing so, the STIT Toolkit provides diverse target groups with a broader understanding of how the digital field can be considered an ally in addressing current social injustices involving young people with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities.

Description of the tool

The STIT Toolkit has been developed as part of the 2-year Erasmus+ project 'Smart Tools for Inclusive Teaching in VET', co-funded by the European Union [Agreement Number 2021-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000029344].

The platform is based on the Flipped Classroom Approach and gathers free open-source options/programs with freemium versions to easily design a lesson in four simple steps:

1. Context: Begin by specifying the target age of your class, the overall duration, the chosen topic, and how you intend to make the lesson inclusive.
2. Before class: Select suitable preparatory materials for students to use at home, stimulating their curiosity about the subject.
3. In-class activity: Explore the various activities provided on our platform and choose the one that best aligns with your lesson objectives. Review the instructions to facilitate its implementation.
4. Conclusion: Our Toolkit also offers debriefing and evaluation activities. Select the most appropriate one for your lesson and follow the provided directions.

The STIT consortium decided to apply the alternative Flipped Classroom methodology to invert the conventional sequences of teaching and learning. By doing so, all students will feel included in the educational setting in a proactive and collaborative way.

This pedagogical approach consists of the following phases:

1. In the initial stage at home, students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the digital resources assigned by the teacher to pique their interest in the upcoming topic.
2. Then, the classroom becomes a space where students are involved under the guidance and support of the teacher in various activities and tasks. These are customised to meet the needs of individual students or small groups.
3. Lastly, the teacher provides a brief assessment activity to evaluate the students’ understanding and offer feedback on their learning progress.