OPPORTUNITIES FOR OPTIMIZING THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THROUGH THE USE OF E-LEARNING RESOURCES

Abstract

The problem of ensuring equal access to quality higher education and a supportive learning environment for people with permanent disabilities is a question of present interest worldwide. It is well known that although the number of students with special educational needs in higher education has increased over the last 10 years, many of them fail to complete educational level because of the many difficulties and barriers they face during their studies. It is quite natural to look for ways to create adequate conditions for their training and to overcome obstacles and difficulties that have arisen. Over the last decade, there has been a trend towards an increasing use of modern information and communication technologies, and in particular electronic learning resources, in the educational process, which creates prerequisites for increasing the accessibility of education for students with special educational needs. It also provides significantly more opportunities in the field of flexibility, adaptability and opportunities for personalization to the individual needs, interests and learning style of each individual learner. Undoubtedly, this is an important condition for achieving greater self-dependence and independence in learning, which in turn are crucial for the successful learning and academic achievement of students with special educational needs. It is important for the teaching staff to have knowledge of the specific needs of this heterogeneous group of students and the skills to create and adequately deliver the content through quality electronic resources, as well as to critically evaluate and select those created by other authors. This report presents a study of the problem of implementation of electronic resources by the tutors of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in the process of teaching students with different types of disorders. A survey of 199 faculty members from different faculties found that the faculties had some experience in creating and adapting electronic resources, as well as using those created by other authors, but despite the high level of digital skills there are deficiencies in the knowledge of professors in training disabled students and in the availability of sufficient technological skills and competences for developing e-content intended to meet the specifics needs of students with different disabilities. The results of the study will help to make specific decisions at institutional level to support and enhance the qualifications of the academic staff of the Sofia University to use electronic resources in the specific context of teaching students with different types of disabilities.The report outlines future areas of study in the field of these issues and underlines specific current problems that need to be addressed.