Information Communication Technology Use among Students in Inclusive Classrooms

Abstract

As inclusion has brought diversity into 21st-century classrooms, it has also brought challenges for teachers who must adapt their teaching to different groups of children with varying learning abilities, needs, and interests. It is believed that information and communication technology (ICT) can be used as a powerful tool to support inclusion and that information on students’ use of ICT can facilitate its integration. Our research compared the leisure and school-related computer use of students in inclusive classrooms. Frequency of computer use, types of ICT-supported activities, and attitudes toward computer use were explored. Consistent with previous studies, our results show that students with special needs (SN) and their peers use computers more frequently for leisure activities than school activities. Compared to their peers, students with SN use computers less frequently and for fewer leisure and school activities. They are also more resistant to computer use. No correlation was found between the presence of SN and a student’s desire to use a computer or opinion regarding whether computer use improves learning success. A comparison of male and female students revealed that males use computers more frequently than females, that they use computers more frequently for leisure activities than females, and that they have a stronger belief that computer use improves learning success. The presented work offers important information that may contribute to the integration of ICT in inclusive classrooms.