Accessible services for smart societies in learning

Abstract

Purpose

This research study aims to evaluate the capacity and sustainability of an accessible society as a smart society and services with the help of MOOCs and assistive technologies within the learning analytics framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research was employed in this research that interview forms were conducted to get data from 60 participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data.

Findings

Research results revealed that MOOCs and assertive technologies are crucial for smart society and opens a map for open pedagogy. Accessible media, services and applications in smart societies are key elements for disabled people lives.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to numbers of research participants in northern part of Cyprus.

Practical implications

Establishing strategies and policies for the smart and accessible society and services are intensified need for the disabled people within the framework of learning analytics.

Social implications

Assistive technologies become medium of facilitating accessible and smart society and services for everyone.

Originality/value

Education plays a great role to enrich services of societies in order to create inclusive efforts to the life of disabled people. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) underline the main theme of making inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. In this respect, accessibility, inclusiveness, equity, equality, quality for lifelong learning are main components to foster accessible and smart society for everyone. Integrating the importance of learning analytics creates a value for understanding of being smart society.

Citation

Altinay, F., Ossiannilsson, E., Altinay, Z. and Dagli, G. (2021), "Accessible services for smart societies in learning", International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 75-89. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-03-2020-0031