Papers by Kyriakos Demetriou
International Journal of Learning Technology
This study explores the strengths and weaknesses of using educational technology in inclusive set... more This study explores the strengths and weaknesses of using educational technology in inclusive settings with limited available resources, in Cyprus. A primary school teacher and her students participated in a series of classroom-based computer-mediated collaborative learning sessions. Students worked in groups and solved a number of mathematical problems with the use of a limited number of available computers in the computer lab of their school. The participants reflected upon their experiences in interviews that were conducted before and after these sessions. In addition, a reflective journal was used to reflect on the process. The thematic analysis of participants’ reflections upon their experiences and the reflective journal unveiled several strengths such as that teacher custom-made learning environments, combined with collaboration in groups, can be a possible solution for technology-rich learning experiences for children in inclusive settings. Also, some benefits of collaboration in groups with the use of the computer occurred, such as working in small groups, increased acceptance, group balance and increased participation. However, some weaknesses of using educational technology in environments with limited available technological resources arose from the analysis. These were technical issues and challenges of collaboration in groups with the use of the computer.
Routledge eBooks, Nov 3, 2022
International Journal of Learning Technology, 2023
This study explores the strengths and weaknesses of using educational technology in inclusive set... more This study explores the strengths and weaknesses of using educational technology in inclusive settings with limited available resources, in Cyprus. A primary school teacher and her students participated in a series of classroom-based computer-mediated collaborative learning sessions. Students worked in groups and solved a number of mathematical problems with the use of a limited number of available computers in the computer lab of their school. The participants reflected upon their experiences in interviews that were conducted before and after these sessions. In addition, a reflective journal was used to reflect on the process. The thematic analysis of participants’ reflections upon their experiences and the reflective journal unveiled several strengths such as that teacher custom-made learning environments, combined with collaboration in groups, can be a possible solution for technology-rich learning experiences for children in inclusive settings. Also, some benefits of collaboration in groups with the use of the computer occurred, such as working in small groups, increased acceptance, group balance and increased participation. However, some weaknesses of using educational technology in environments with limited available technological resources arose from the analysis. These were technical issues and challenges of collaboration in groups with the use of the computer.
The Bloomsbury Handbook of Culture and Identity from Early Childhood to Early Adulthood, 2021
Early Child Development and Care, 2019
This small-scale study, conducted in Cyprus, considers issues of friendship by exploring the view... more This small-scale study, conducted in Cyprus, considers issues of friendship by exploring the views of children (aged 6-8 years) without disabilities towards peers with physical disabilities. Participants were interviewed with the use of images depicting children with physical disabilities and were asked to justify their friendship, express their feelings and estimate the feelings of unfamiliar children in wheelchairs. It was found that friendships between typically developing children and peers with disabilities are regularly formed on the basis of children's understandings, attitudes and feelings towards peers with disabilities that appear to mirror the societal stereotypes to disability and arise from the social environment in which children are growing up. In order to encourage children's sensitivity and understanding towards social inclusion for their peers with disabilities, there is a need for children to have better and more insightful understandings of diversity, social inclusion and acceptance through first hand experiences.
Early Child Development and Care, 2020
This small-scale study aims to explore acceptance and preference dilemmas in choosing playmates w... more This small-scale study aims to explore acceptance and preference dilemmas in choosing playmates with physical disability of typically developing 6-8-year-old Cypriot children. Eighteen participants were interviewed individually in a simple process involving scenarios and questions with the use of images of hypothetical peers with and without physical disabilities. Interview questions were based on three different scenarios about activities requiring different degrees of mobility. It was found that the majority of children tend to choose the hypothetical children with physical disability as playmates even for activities involving mobility. Children's justifications of their choices are of particular interest and fall within the sphere of morality and empathy rather than functionality. Some misconceptions about physical disability are associated with limited previous encounters with such individuals. Findings guide educators in choosing appropriate activities in the framework of childfocused intervention programmes aiming to promote fruitful social interactions between children with and without physical disabilities.
Int. J. Learn. Technol., 2020
This qualitative study explores the views of six Cypriot primary school teachers regarding the va... more This qualitative study explores the views of six Cypriot primary school teachers regarding the value of educational technology, their actual use of such technology in their classrooms and factors working against its use. Participating teachers collaborated with the researcher in the design of simple web-based learning environments for a variety of learners in their classes and the use of those in a series of computer-mediated teaching sessions, in the framework of an alternative training programme based on the Whole Teacher Development approach, a conceptual framework for in-service professional development of teachers. Both before and after this, participant observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted. It was found that the use of educational technologies in these Cypriot primary schools depends on a complex framework of interwoven and dynamic factors at both teacher and school levels. The results suggest that this collaboration opportunity has the potential to develop positive attitudes and change conservative stances towards educational technology although other factors such as lack of time, a demanding curriculum and limited ready-made and suitable educational software work against its use.
Global Studies of Childhood, 2019
The aim of this article is to explore early childhood students’ views on how variations in educat... more The aim of this article is to explore early childhood students’ views on how variations in educational technology might impact young children’s learning experiences in the classroom. Initially, a meta-analysis of 33 studies was carried out in order to identify how technology is positioned in children’s lives (m = 4.8 years), identifying two key dimensions: one, regarding aspects of children’s learning and, the other, regarding their personal development. At a second stage, two online vignettes, informed by the meta-analysis findings, were completed by 45 university students studying early childhood studies (N = 45). Participants’ understandings of the interplay between the First Space (material space) and the Second Space (mental space based on perceptions and attitudes) were explored from the perspective of Soja’s Third Space which combines both First and Second Spaces. Data show that alterations in the First Space influence participants’ opinions on the relationship between techno...
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2020
This paper explores the debatable usefulness of the categorisation of Special Educational Needs c... more This paper explores the debatable usefulness of the categorisation of Special Educational Needs considering evidence from the literature. Classification systems of SEN are discussed through a brief historical review. In addition, the language of special education and the potential consequences of such a classification and labels are explored. Also, strengths and limitations of the continuous use of the traditional categories and labels as well as the extent of their usefulness in the wider context of inclusive education are examined. The main purpose is not to simply blame SEN labels as causes of discrimination, marginalisation and stigmatisation but to more broadly examine their usefulness. The article concludes with a discussion of possible solutions and future implications.
The last few years, the differentiation of instruction became fashionable in Cyprus after the ref... more The last few years, the differentiation of instruction became fashionable in Cyprus after the reformation of the curriculum in primary education. Although, the majority of the teachers supports the philosophy of differentiation, few of them turn it into practice, despite the mixed-ability students’ populations in their classrooms. They may not avoid it deliberately but due to the lacks of material-technical infrastructure and knowledge concerning how to adjust their teaching in particular characteristics of their students. This paper aims to outline a trial for the introduction of an innovating approach for teaching WMPS by bearing in mind the benefits deriving from the use of ICT for the differentiation of the instruction, the restricted technological facilities in mainstream primary-school classrooms in Cyprus, and the particular needs and difficulties of students with dyslexia included in the classroom in WMPS.
Disability & Society
This study examines the representations of the disabled body by unpicking the messages transferre... more This study examines the representations of the disabled body by unpicking the messages transferred through the artistic illustrations of disability found in 250 postage stamps. The theoretical framework employed derives from cultural, critical and feminist disability studies, while the tripartite model of disability served as a critical framework to the analysis of the representations of the disabled body. The first-level coding led in the classification of postage stamps into eight categories according to the impairment. The second-level coding involved visual semiotic analysis for an in-depth cross-categorical analysis with emphasis on the representation of the disabled body on a number of selected stamps and is presented in two main sections: (i) the disabled body as the impaired body and (ii) the disabled body among other bodies. Such research is useful for disability studies and its interdisciplinary directions that seek to challenge dominant oppressive representations and rhetoric around the disabled body.
This study was designed to explore how the use of computers can facilitate and make accessible wo... more This study was designed to explore how the use of computers can facilitate and make accessible word-mathematical problem solving for students with dyslexia in Cyprus, given their learning difficulties; that the available ICT resources in Cyprus are restricted; and that the IT skills of the majority of students and teachers are limited, in two different settings: the wholeclassrooms of students with dyslexia and on an individual level. Web-based learning environments (WBLEs) were designed in collaboration with participating teachers with the use of simple tools that do not demand specialized IT knowledge. Several word-based mathematical problems were chosen. The WBLEs guided the students following five steps. The guidance was facilitated by navigation buttons, audio instructions, pictures, and diagrams, etc. Six whole-classroom implementations were conducted where the students (including a student with dyslexia) collaborated in groups with the use of a computer. Also, eight individua...
This study examines the representations of the disabled body by unpicking the messages transferre... more This study examines the representations of the disabled body by unpicking the messages transferred through the artistic illustrations of disability found in 250 postage stamps. The theoretical framework employed derives from cultural, critical and feminist disability studies, while the tripartite model of disability served as a critical framework to the analysis of the representations of the disabled body. The first-level coding led in the classification of postage stamps into eight categories according to the impairment. The second-level coding involved visual semiotic analysis for an in-depth cross-categorical analysis with emphasis on the representation of the disabled body on a number of selected stamps and is presented in two main sections: (i) the disabled body as the impaired body and (ii) the disabled body among other bodies. Such research is useful for disability studies and its interdisciplinary directions that seek to challenge dominant oppressive representations and rhetoric around the disabled body.
International Journal of Learning Technology, 2021
This qualitative study explores the views of six Cypriot primary school teachers regarding the va... more This qualitative study explores the views of six Cypriot primary school teachers regarding the value of educational technology, their actual use of such technology in their classrooms and factors working against its use. Participating teachers collaborated with the researcher in the design of simple web-based learning environments for a variety of learners in their classes and the use of those in a series of computer-mediated teaching sessions, in the framework of an alternative training programme based on the Whole Teacher Development approach, a conceptual framework for in-service professional development of teachers. Both before and after this, participant observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted. It was found that the use of educational technologies in these Cypriot primary schools depends on a complex framework of interwoven and dynamic factors at both teacher and school levels. The results suggest that this collaboration opportunity has the potential to develop positive attitudes and change conservative stances towards educational technology although other factors such as lack of time, a demanding curriculum and limited ready-made and suitable educational software work against its use.
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2020
This paper explores the debatable usefulness of the categorisation of Special Educational Needs c... more This paper explores the debatable usefulness of the categorisation of Special Educational Needs considering evidence from the literature. Classification systems of SEN are discussed through a brief historical review. In addition, the language of special education and the potential consequences of such a classification and labels are explored. Also, strengths and limitations of the continuous use of the traditional categories and labels as well as the extent of their usefulness in the wider context of inclusive education are examined. The main purpose is not to simply blame SEN labels as causes of discrimination, marginalisation and stigmatisation but to more broadly examine their usefulness. The article concludes with a discussion of possible solutions and future implications.
Global Studies of Childhood, 2019
The aim of this article is to explore early childhood students’ views on how variations in educat... more The aim of this article is to explore early childhood students’ views on how variations in educational technology might impact young children’s learning experiences in the classroom. Initially, a meta-analysis of 33 studies was carried out in order to identify how technology is positioned in children’s lives (m = 4.8 years), identifying two key dimensions: one, regarding aspects of children’s learning and, the other, regarding their personal development. At a second stage, two online vignettes, informed by the meta-analysis findings, were completed by 45 university students studying early childhood studies (N = 45). Participants’ understandings of the interplay between the First Space (material space) and the Second Space (mental space based on perceptions and attitudes) were explored from the perspective of Soja’s Third Space which combines both First and Second Spaces. Data show that alterations in the First Space influence participants’ opinions on the relationship between technology and children’s learning and development. The implications of this study reflect the complexity of educational technology in early years settings where both First and Second Spaces play a significant role and provides the opportunity to implement a spatial perspective on how practitioners can become navigators, transformers and constructors of their own technological praxis and practice.
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Papers by Kyriakos Demetriou
Το Εγχειρίδιο επιμόρφωσης Μαζί ζωντανεύουμε ένα σχολείο για όλους αποτελεί ένα πόνημα από τους εταίρους του προγράμματος I_AM Erasmus+ με τίτλο: «Η συμπεριληπτική εκπαίδευση με τη χρήση κινουμένων σχεδίων και πολυμέσων».
Ο στόχος του υλικού είναι να αναπτύξει αποτελεσματικά και προσαρμοσμένα εργαλεία για την υποστήριξη των παρόχων επαγγελματικής εκπαίδευσης και κατάρτισης εκπαιδευτικών στην εφαρμογή των πολιτικών και πρακτικών συμπεριληπτικής εκπαίδευσης, καθώς και στην προώθηση κοινών αξιών που συνδέονται με τις αρχές της συμπεριληπτικής εκπαίδευσης. Τα εξειδικευμένα εργαλεία κατάρτισης μπορούν να αξιοποιηθούν είτε για ατομική μελέτη είτε για συμβατικές συνεδρίες επιμόρφωσης σε αίθουσες διδασκαλίας ή διαδικτυακές επιμορφώσεις, οι οποίες έχουν σκοπό την προώθηση της συμπεριληπτικής εκπαίδευσης, μέσα από την ευαισθητοποίηση σε σχέση με τις εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες των παιδιών με αναπηρία. Σκοπός είναι η ενίσχυση του εκπαιδευτικού προσωπικού ως προς τον τρόπο διαχείρισης της διαφορετικότητας. Οι εκπαιδευτικοί, τα άτομα με αναπηρία-πρότυπα και οι γονείς έχουν καθοριστικό ρόλο σε αυτή τη διαδικασία.
Στο εγχειρίδιο περιλαμβάνονται πέντε κύριες Θεματικές Ενότητες.