New book addresses failing 'inclusion' practices in our digital world
A new book co-edited by Professor Stephen Dobson tackles the societal issue of ‘inclusion’ in a digital world, providing insightful solutions to some pre-existing and emerging problems.
In the open access book Learning Inclusion in a Digital Age: Belonging and Finding a Voice with the Disadvantaged, Professor Dobson, Dean of CQUniversity’s School of Education and the Arts, explores how inclusive learning, wellbeing and active citizenship can be encouraged, taught, learnt, and supported in a digital world.
It dives into how governments and intergovernmental organisations, along with the education sector, can support learning inclusion and active citizenship; and how communities can work with vulnerable, disadvantaged people in a participatory and empowering manner.
“Considerable time is spent discussing inclusion, or its half-way house of inclusive exclusion, but what time is given to learning inclusive education and its implementation in a digital world?” asks Professor Dobson.
“This book attempts to address the need for learning and teaching inclusion in today’s world.
“Beyond education, inclusive learning extends to social inclusivity, surpassing medical and legislative definitions in the digital age.
“It is a key pillar in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and central to many professions, organisations, and policymakers.”
Examples discussed in the book draw on the experiences of adult refugees and migrants, as well as others who have experienced disadvantage and/or discrimination as a result of their social, economic, political, cultural, religious, physical, mental, age or gender-related status.
A focus in the book is on the development of skills in digital storytelling and digital stories creation for personal, community and professional purposes.
The book is of interest to researchers and policy makers at local, national and transnational levels, as well as teacher and community professionals who work to support and include disadvantaged adults.
Professor Dobson has co-edited the book alongside Associate Professor Brit Svoen, Professor Gabriella Agrusti and Dr Victoria (Pip) Hardy, and is the outcome of a multi-country project seeking to co-develop and trial learning resources for adult learners.
CQUniversity’s education expert Dr Corey Bloomfield will lead a webinar discussion with Professor Dobson about the book and the subject of ‘inclusion’ on 20 March at 12pm via Zoom. Details here
The book is now available via open access via the Springer website.
