Master’s Degree in Inclusive Education: Connected Classrooms

Could the future of connected classrooms improve inclusivity in schools?

Due to COVID, many schools and education providers had to quickly adopt technology in order to make their classrooms more of a connected experience. We’re now years on, and the connected learning environment has proven to be successful where access to laptops has been readily available for pupils.

While we’re far off from ensuring this is the case for every child in the UK, this digital experiment has provided us with a glimpse into what connected learning in the future could look like. If you’re doing or are interested in doing a master’s degree in inclusive education, technology is something that may have a major role in future policies and classroom environments.

What is inclusive education?

Inclusive education is education that ensures inclusivity and accessibility for everyone, including non-disabled and disabled children, and those with special educational needs. An inclusive classroom makes it possible for kids of all abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the same level of education and receive the support they need.

The MA Inclusive Education course at the University of Bolton is ideal for experienced education practitioners with a particular interest in this area and can lead to a number of senior and managerial career opportunities.

In our programme, students will gain knowledge in designing and delivering education that is accessible to learners with specific needs and gain insight into the compassionate and connected classroom.

What is the connected classroom?

A connected classroom is one that leverage technology to make learning accessible to all. Back in 2018, a report by CISCO highlighted the importance of rethinking teaching with the Four Cs of classroom connectivity: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.

Since schools were thrown into transformation by lockdown rules, classroom technology has ticked all four boxes. But of course, we could be years away from making the connected learning environment a seamless possibility. Factors such as administrative support play a big part in ensuring classrooms can be digitalised.

Furthermore, socioeconomic factors will always be a concern. One million laptops and tablets were given to disadvantaged children at the height of the pandemic in December 2020. While these devices have been a great support to remote education at the time, these initiatives would have to continue long into the future to ensure digital learning was accessible for every child.

Study a master’s degree in inclusive education

If you’re looking to progress your career in education, a master’s degree in inclusive education could be a fantastic career investment. This is a great launching pad for positions such as Head of Year or Head of Inclusion, and can also be beneficial for social workers and other roles where you work directly with children.

At the University of Bolton, we’re a leading Greater Manchester university that ranks No.2 (and Joint 7th in the UK) for Student Satisfaction in Education Courses.* We are also one of the longest-running providers in teacher training degrees, including further education courses, and have an impressive graduate employment rate.

So there’s nowhere better to study and enjoy personal and professional development…welcome to #UniAsItShouldBe!

To find out more about applying in 2022/23, see our MA Inclusive Education course page.

*Complete University Guide 2022 – North West Region