Design for digital inclusion in your teaching practice

Step 1: Get acquainted with the concepts

Start by opening the Digital4All Module 1 GPT. Use it to explore the following questions, one by one. Type them into the GPT and read its responses:

1. “What is the difference between digital inclusion and digital equity?”

2. “What are common barriers to digital inclusion in higher education?”

3. “Can you give me examples of how assistive technologies support inclusive learning?”

4. “How can universal design for learning be applied in course design?”

Write down three key takeaways in simple language that you could explain to a colleague with no background in digital inclusion.

Step 2: Reflect on your context

Use the GPT to guide your reflection. Ask:

• “What kind of digital barriers might my students face?”

• “What are some small changes I can make to make my course more inclusive?”

Now, in your own words, write a short paragraph (5–7 sentences) reflecting on:

• A specific barrier one of your students might face (e.g. limited internet access, vision impairment, low digital literacy)

• How you might address that barrier using strategies from the module (e.g. using captions, downloadable PDFs, screen-reader-compatible documents, or visual alternatives to text)

Step 3: Explore the policy context

Ask the GPT:

• “What does the Digital Education Action Plan say about inclusion and accessibility?”

• “How might an institutional policy support inclusive teaching?”

Then, write a short statement (3–4 sentences) on how you would advocate for digital inclusion at your institution. You might start with:

“I believe that to promote inclusive digital education, our institution should…”

Step 4: Apply what you’ve learned – mini redesign task

Choose one course or module you currently teach (or imagine one if you're not currently teaching). Identify a single lesson or activity where you can apply the principles of inclusion and equity. Now:

• Describe the lesson/activity (2–3 sentences)

• Identify one change you could make to improve accessibility or inclusion (e.g. provide a video transcript, translate materials, simplify navigation, add image alt-text)

• Use ChatGPT to help phrase this improvement clearly. Ask:
  “How can I redesign this activity to make it more inclusive for learners with different needs?”

Then, draft a short plan (bullet points or a paragraph) of how you will implement this change.

Step 5: Share and inspire

To consolidate your learning, summarize what you've done in a short message or post (for example, in a discussion forum, workshop, or social media post), using the following prompts:

• "One thing I learned about digital equity is..."

• "A small change I’m making in my course is..."

• "I’d like to learn more about..."