Sustainable Services for Wellbeing

The purpose of the TINEL project is to promote Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Due to the accessibility directive for public digital services, we apply UDL thinking particularly to eLearning. The project generates new information on three levels:

1. the best practices of inclusive eLearning and the use of UDL to meet the needs of different higher education students at national and international level
2. innovative pedagogical and technical skills and a mentoring network for teachers
3. a model for sensitising faculty and staff to issues related to the planning of inclusive eLearning in the context of UDL

The objectives are:

1. to map and explore inclusive practices of eLearning and possibilities of implementing the UDL approach in higher education institutions
2. to develop an evaluation tool and an educational model for improving eLearning accessibility from the UDL perspective
3. to develop the pedagogical and technical competence of staff for improving inclusive eLearning from the UDL perspective

TINEL website

The project develops technical and pedagogical solutions for higher education institutions to improve the accessibility of learning environments and systems of higher education institutions. The accessibility of all sub-projects and the digital learning environment is ensured by using the Design for all method. The sub-project analyses the current situation, identifies the key development objectives, and models accessible digital learning environments and an accessible study path for students.

DigiCampus website

DigiCampus – Accessibility website (In Finnish)

The aim is to support the objectives of Shift2Rail and, for example, to reduce the life-cycle costs of railway infrastructure, improve the reliability and punctuality of operations, and to increase capacity, as well as to improve interoperability and passenger experience. HAMK’s share of the project in Finland concerns an inventory of the service level and usability of small stations along the main railway line from the passengers’ point of view. Particular attention will be paid to accessibility and the services and appropriateness of waiting facilities (WP8 work package: Improved accessibility to trains – Platform train interface).

Project website

The purpose of the SPEDUCULT-project was to increase knowledge and understanding of various sociocultural aspects of multisensory environments’ (MSEs) framework in the culturally versatile Nordic and Baltic countries. The aims were: 1. To survey current MSE-cultures to improve quality and innovation of studies and practices for lifelong learning: in higher education, in adult education and in special education at primary school in the participating countries. 2. To provide new practical ideas for designing sensory activity of arousal and calming with best practices of applied MSE. 3. To strengthen and expand the SPEDUTEC network with new partners, institutions and organizations. 4. To disseminate current knowledge and practices for a broader audience interested in MSEs in the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Learn more about the project and the results from the SPEDUCULT webpages.

The aim of the project was to provide support for students in upper secondary education in clarifying their personal study path, making progress in their studies and for professional growth and development. Based on digital footprints and the possibilities offered by learning analytics, the project developed a model for monitoring progress in studies, a visual personal study plan and workshops for peer mentoring and coaching. The project also created a model for the demonstration of competence through a multimodal portfolio. Read more about the project results, publications and articles here. (Mostly in Finnish)

Project website

The aim of the project was to promote the fire safety and rescue operations of special groups in Finland. In the case of special groups, multimodal guidance solutions that enable the reception of information in a multisensory manner are emphasised. Multimodality refers to the packaging of information in different formats and sharing it through different channels. The project examined how the Evacuation of people with Disabilities European Guideline (CFPA-E Guideline No 33: 2015 F) currently materialises in the signage solutions and instructions for a safe exit from public buildings. On the other hand, the project also explored what kinds of development needs and solutions that support multisensory detection were revealed by the survey and piloting. Emergency exit solutions consistent with the guideline were tested on the 3rd floor of Ruskis School at the Valteri Centre for Learning and Consulting. New solutions based on mobile technology were also developed. The effectiveness of the solutions was simulated using the Pathfinder simulation tool and the exit risks were assessed using the Fire Risk Assessment Method for Engineering (FRAME). The study resulted in a model for the promotion of emergency exit safety: 1) Providing information in advance (Website containing information on multisensory guidance solutions; A multisensory map for exit routes; Safety walks and advance training), 2) Providing information through multiple channels (visible and audible) during an emergency, 3) Static signs for all senses, and 4) Real-time guidance and instructions for all senses. In addition, development needs were identified in areas such as the placement of alarms and signs, indicating the opening direction of doors, and marking the safe evacuation facilities.

Project summary. (In Finnish)

Read more about the project and the results in the final report of Smart fire safety. (In Finnish)

The aim was to promote the equality, accessibility and employment prospects of students in need of special support at HAMK. The project had three objectives: 1 to strengthen the competence in support of young people’s employment prospects and to make this competence visible 2 to diversify the cooperation between the higher education institution and the world of work, taking into account the needs of students requiring special support 3 to develop new guidance practices that promote the employment prospects of students. Two open learning environments were established for strengthening competence that promotes the employment prospects of students in need of special support, and for making such competence visible. The learning environments were called workshops. In the career workshop, the students were encouraged to present their own competence through career coaching and a multimodal portfolio. The workshop of assistive technology familiarised the students, experts by experience and HAMK’s staff with the solutions of digital assistive technology that are useful in learning and information work.

To learn more about the project results, visit the website of the Assistive technology workshop. (In Finnish)

The aim of the project was to study and develop the Multisensory wayfinding method and signage alternatives as part of improving the accessibility of public transport in public transport terminals. The aim was to create instructions for the planning and implementation of accessible routes to complement the EU rail guidelines in connection with the guidance of visually impaired passengers. The testing of the method and the signage alternatives resulted in the drafting of instructions for planning and implementation. The instructions include alternative design principles and manufacturing techniques for the planning and implementation of uninterrupted multisensory guidance. Other results include an MWay model for static and dynamic signage solutions that enables a seamless travel chain experience.

Read more about the project and its results in The development project for a multisensory navigation method and signage system that serves people with visual impairments. And the Testing the system in public terminals in Tikkurila and Itäkeskus final report. (In Finnish)

With ILSI project (Itsenäistä liikkumista sujuvoittavat tienlöytämisratkaisut) we attempted to develop smart multi‐sensory way‐finding solutions

1.  that would ease VI person’s independent translocations and way‐finding indoors
2. that would increase independent mobility and travelling with public transport.

Piloting was done at Itis Shopping Mall in East Helsinki. The most important result of the project was the identified way-finding potential of iBeacons on strengthening landmarks detecting with sounds and verbal messages. iBeacons transmitted three-level messages helped to recognize contact points and environmental features, and to confirm person where they were on the way to the destination.

See the video of the indoor navigation model in practice.

Read more of the results of the project in article Solving way-finding challenges.

Nordplus Horizontal -project SPEDUTEC was focusing on promoting learning and development in multisensory environments with assistive technology solutions. The Nordic-Baltic project goal was two-folded:

1. to increase understanding of theoretical, pedagogical and technological practice on learning through assistive technologies (ATs) in multisensory environments (MSE) by sharing knowledge and experiences
2. to build a new Nordic-Baltic network on the topic.

In result, network was built, and several issues were found to need further attention in creating AT within MSEs in Nordic-Baltic levels:

• a need to advance co-creation and collaboration with end-users of product and service designers
• to develop interdisciplinary approach and cross-disciplinary communication, especially in learning and technology accessibility, and social aspects (e.g. inclusion and social interaction, independence and self-confidence)
• to develop competence among professionals working in education, health and social sector, as well as among teachers in higher education in these areas.

Learn more about the project from SPEDUTEC webpage.

The project developed new ways and a new participatory operating culture for the production and evaluation of information on the accessibility of services. During the KUPS! pilot, 3 blind people and 3 people with reduced mobility learned to use smartphones (iPhone5) and mobile applications to collect observations on service accessibility. We used various different mobile applications, such as the game-based Foursquare, BlindSquare for visually impaired people, the Mbraille mobile braille keyboard for visually impaired people, the Tap TapSee identification application and the Dragon Dictation programme. The pilot was implemented at the Verkatehdas Culture and Congress Centre in Hämeenlinna, and particularly at Hämeenlinna Art Museum and Bio Rex. The project resulted in a mobile-based “standard model” for collecting information on accessibility and defining the accessibility path.

Read more about the project results in the summary: KUPS – closing seminar.

Nordplus Horizontal -project SPEDUREG - ”Aren’t we all special? – How to meet the educational needs of all children in a classroom? Competence, procedures and attitudes in a multi-actor and cross-sector regional perspective”. The purpose of the project was to exchange knowledge and experience on innovative regional cooperation solutions to address special education/learning needs within an early intervention and cross-sector, “multi-helper” perspective, which builds on regional collaboration between different actors. Exchanged case studies comprised of three activity elements: a field visit, a partner workshop, and an open seminar. The field visit was build around the local solution, constituting the “case” (benchmarking). A more “theoretical” presentation of the case and its elaboration was the core of the partner workshop. The seminars at the end of each partner meeting (case-study) were open to an audience beyond the network partnership in the hosting institute, i.e. students and staff and relevant actors in the region. In result of the project, the SPEDUREG-network was build and best regional practices were exchanged and applied into practice.

Learn more about the project from SPEDUREG webpages.