A research team from the University of Nottingham are looking for parents/carers of children aged under 7, who have special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities, to take part in a research study investigating their children’s use of mobile devices at home.
The aim of this research is to explore the current use of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets) use in the homes of children with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities and parents’ perspectives, expectations, and experiences of using these devices with their children.
I would like to highlight an important thing about this research which is that this study does not aim to evaluate or judge your parenting regarding technology use at home.
Participants of this study will be asked to complete a web-based anonymous questionnaire regarding their child’s mobile device usage at home. The questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The questionnaire consists of questions which related to your child’s mobile device usage at home and your experiences and opinions about this usage.
It is hoped that this research will increase educators’ knowledge about the role of mobile devices in the daily lives of children with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities which in turn could provide them with a foundation to support these children’s development through mobile devices.
Also, it is expected that the result of this study could guide policymakers in their decisions regarding educational technology.
To take part, click here to complete the questionnaire.
About the research team
Yunus Saracoglu
Yunus has four years of working experience as a special educational needs teacher in Turkey. He is currently a PhD student in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham. He is interested in the role of mobile devices in the life of young children with special and educational needs and disabilities, and their families. His doctoral research explores mobile device use of young children with SEND at their home.
Contact email: yunus.saracoglu@nottingham.ac.uk
First Supervisor: Dr Anne Emerson
Anne started her career working as a speech and language therapist with children with a range of communication impairments. Anne continues to work directly with children with special needs and provides training to teachers, teaching assistants, parents and carers. Anne researches within the field of special educational needs and disabilities. Her interests include pedagogical approaches to teaching students with autism and intellectual impairment, the impact of disabled children on families and how anxiety impacts on autistic people.
Contact email: anne.emerson@nottingham.ac.uk
Second Supervisor: Dr Debra Costley
Dr Debra Costley has over thirty years of experience in education, particularly special education, in the UK, Australia and the USA. Dr Debra Costley has an international reputation in the field of autism across the lifespan, with a particular focus on education. Her research in the last ten years has been focused on autism, interventions, and outcomes for children and adults.
Contact email: anne.emerson@nottingham.ac.uk