Malopolska Educational Cloud: an innovative educational project for able-bodied and disabled users

Abstract

Introduction The article describes the design assumptions and the practical implementation of the educational project called Malopolska Educational Cloud. It is an example of an innovative solution using modern technology in the field of education. The problem and purpose of the research The implementation of the project resulted from the observation of unfavorable phenomena occurring in the area of education at the junction of upper secondary and higher schools, which were confirmed in the research described in the paper. Successively, the issues covering the project's objectives were discussed, the target group: recipients, was characterized and the project's innovation was assessed. State of knowledge Then the issue of a disabled person as a user of the Educational Cloud was presented. The assessment indicated that the project implementation allows for greater activation of people with disabilities, including thanks to the possibility of participating in virtual classes, lectures and laboratories, and thus remote learning using the created network, without the need to move. It has been shown that the project implements the principle of equal opportunities and non-discrimination, including accessibility for people with disabilities, has a positive impact on it and is made in accordance with the principle of universal design. Summary The described project consists in incorporating technology into improving the course of cognitive processes and the importance of this research for education, including increasing the effectiveness of the learning and teaching process by virtualizing education. The conclusions drawn concern the most difficult group in terms of education: disabled students as users.

Keywords

• educational cloud, digitization, disability, innovation, user, virtual teaching and learning