Wednesday Webinar: Assistive Technology in Prison Education with Christine Franklin

Home > Wednesday Webinar: Assistive Technology in Prison Education with Christine Franklin

15 July 2020

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Christine Franklin talks about how assistive technology can be used to support learners in prison, particularly prisoners with learning difficulties and those who don’t speak English as a first language. This webinar was chaired by Professor Tom Schuller, chair of the Prisoner Learning Alliance.

Listen to the Webinar with Christine Franklin here.

Christine discusses the impact of introducing reading pens to prisoners with learning difficulties and for those for whom English is not a first language. Reading pens are handheld, digital, pen-shaped gadgets that can detect written words and read them aloud to the user, enabling prisoners to develop literacy skills at their own pace

Assistive technologies, like the reading pen, could be crucial to the future of prison education [and] the lockdown period has exposed the need for technology within prisons

Christine talks about how these digital pens have revolutionised learning within the prison setting, enabling prisoners to produce work they feel proud of. Christine speaks of one particular learner who, thanks to his determination and from the support of assistive technology, was able to write his first ever letter home, and the sense of pride and ownership he gained from this.

This webinar explores how assistive technologies, like the reading pen, could be crucial to the future of prison education, acknowledging how the lockdown period has exposed the need for better access to digital technology within prisons. To listen to more of our webinars check out The Prisoner Learning Alliance SoundCloud

Promoting the use of digital technology in prisons is one of Prisoner Learning Alliance’s key priorities. You can read more about the importance of digital technology in prison education in our latest briefing:

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