Animation is a powerful medium for learning, both for viewers and, particularly, for those who create animated films. Animated Learning is a European Union project led by professional animators in Denmark joined by teachers and researchers in Estonia and the UK. Chris Abbott is research advisor to the project and will outline progress so far, show examples of animations produced, and discuss the potential of animation as an assistive technology, especially for those with dyslexia and others who struggle with written text.

Chris Abbott’s Masters dissertation for the University of London focussed on children’s understanding of Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner (!) and he has extensive experience of children making animations in special schools.

Dr Chris Abbott (Reader in e-Inclusion in the Department of Education and Professional Studies at King’s College London). Before joining KCL, he taught in special and mainstream schools for many years, was an Advisory Teacher for ICT and SEN and was then appointed Director of the Inner London Educational Computing Centre. At King’s College London he is the Director of the MA e-Inclusion (Learning, Disability and Technology) and the Foundation Degree in Education Studies programmes. He is the author of ICT: Changing Education (2000 RoutledgeFalmer), Special Educational Needs and the Internet: Issues fot the Inclusive Classroom (2002 RoutledgeFalmer) and e-Inclusion: Learning Difficulties & Digital Technologies (2007 Futurelab), as well as many academic journal papers and other publications. He is the Editor of the Journal of Assistive Technologies. His current PhD students are investigating a range of topics related to assistive technologies use in education including word prediction, podcasting, boys and writing, the use of graphic symbols, inclusion policy and digital literacy.