EdTech for Learners With Hearing and Visual Impairments: A Rapid Evidence Review for the Southeast Asian Region

This publication is one part of a series of Rapid Evidence Reviews (RERs) that has been produced by EdTech Hub as part of the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme. The programme aims to enhance foundational learning opportunities for all by breaking down barriers that hinder the educational achievements of girls and marginalised learners. The purpose of the RERs is to provide education decision-makers with accessible, evidence-based summaries of good practice in specific areas of EdTech in the Southeast Asian region. They are focused on topics which are particularly relevant to marginalised learners, and how to improve their access to education with technology. All the RERs are available at https://edtechhub.org/. This Rapid Evidence Review (RER) provides an overview of existing literature on the use of educational technology (EdTech) for the education of learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the Southeast Asian region, specifically those with visual and hearing impairments. It also summarises the current state and potential benefits of using technology for the education of these learners, and its limitations and challenges. The following countries are included in the review’s scope: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. We discuss the nature of EdTech for learners living with visual and hearing impairments, the effectiveness of these initiatives, and barriers for accessing EdTech. We found that practices often support all learners, that many of the barriers identified were not unique to learners with hearing and visual impairments, and that governments and educators may need further support to embed principles to support learners with SEND. However, additional research is needed in order to further understand how learners with hearing and visual impairments use EdTech. Keywords: SEND; RER; visual impairments; hearing impairments; EdTech; Southeast Asia An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org/

DOI: 10.53832/edtechhub.1028 ZenodoArchiveID: 11197419 ZenodoArchiveConcept: 11197418