A Transdisciplinary Approach to Promoting Self-Determination: Collaboration Between Special Education Teachers and Music Therapists

2022 ◽  
pp. 004005992110681
Author(s):  
Anna Laura McAfee ◽  
Aftynne E. Cheek ◽  
Maddy Hensch ◽  
Lexi Stone
Keyword(s):  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Music Therapists ◽  
Choice Making ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Individualized Educational Programs

Self-determination consists of essential skills for students with disabilities because it gives individuals the power to make decisions based on their own needs and desires. Self-determination includes areas such as choice-making, goal setting, and self-directed learning. Music therapy is a service that can be used to enhance self-determination for students within the educational setting. Through intentional collaboration, music therapists and special educators can bring together their expertise to promote self-determination in students with disabilities. As members of students’ Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs), both professionals are working towards the common interest of fulfilling individuals’ goals and needs. The authors of this manuscript outline and describe a three-step process for collaboration between music therapists and special educators to promote self-determination among students while also providing a vignette to demonstrate this practice.

Self-Directed Learning to Improve Science Content Knowledge for Teachers

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Deborah Hanuscin ◽  
Cathy Newman Thomas ◽  
Melissa Stormont ◽  
Eun J. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Teaching Science ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Science Content Knowledge ◽  
Quality Instruction ◽  
Inclusive Settings ◽  
Directed Learning

Students with disabilities often struggle in science and underperform in this important content area when compared to their typical peers. Unfortunately, many special educators have had little preparation to develop science content knowledge or skills in methods for teaching science. Despite their lack of content knowledge, special educators are often solely responsible for teaching science to students with disabilities in resource settings and self-contained classrooms; while in inclusive settings, special educators may be called on to coteach or consult. Given their increased role in teaching this content, special educators may experience anxiety about their own science knowledge. This column provides special educators, via self-directed learning, with information and resources to enhance their science content knowledge and build awareness of students’ ideas in science so they can provide high-quality instruction in science for students with disabilities.

scholarly journals SELF-EVALUATION OF PROSPECTIVE SPECIAL EDUCATORS’ COMPETENCIES FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PERSONALISED LEARNING PARADIGM

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (34) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanija Ališauskienė ◽  
Irena Kafemanienė ◽  
Algirdas Ališauskas
Keyword(s):  
Special Educators ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Social Competencies ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Personalised Learning ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Study Process ◽  
Personal Changes

The article analyses how self-evaluation of prospective special educators’ acquired<br />competencies helps them to identify their needs and study expectations from the<br />standpoint of personalised learning and opens up ways for teachers to start a dialogue with students, better understand learners and, considering their professional interests, improve study quality. The study was aimed to disclose theoretical links between personalised learning and students’ active participation in the study process, to determine how future special educators self-evaluate acquired competencies and disclose their learning interests, interpret self-evaluation results of prospective special educators’ competencies, based on the theoretical methodological model of personalised learning. Seeking the research aim, mixed methodology was employed: quantitative and qualitative research and data processing methods were combined. The study was attended by 78 I-IV year students of the first study cycle of special education. The study demonstrated that personal and social competencies were an integral part of professional competencies; therefore, in students’ opinion, these competencies should be given particularly much attention educating future special educators. Prospective special educators emphasise the influence of studies on changes in and maturity of their values, self-awareness, personal changes. Less expressed characteristics of personalised learning are self-directed learning, implementation of experiential abilities and purposefulness

From Caring to Cared For

2019 ◽  
pp. 102-117
Author(s):  
Lindsey A. Chapman ◽  
Chelsea T. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Retention ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Marginalized Populations ◽  
Practical Application

Special educators dedicate their careers to caring for one of the most vulnerable and historically marginalized populations of students despite often working in environments that do little to reciprocate this care. Amidst an ever-changing education landscape, special education teachers are becoming increasingly stressed, experiencing burnout at alarming rates, and far too frequently leaving the field altogether. In this chapter, caring school leadership is examined in the context of special education. The authors seek to bridge a theoretical stance with practical application to the field. Three necessary conditions for caring are discussed and specific “transactions of care” are recommended. The chapter concludes by upholding the idea that ensuring special educators feel cared for by school leaders has the potential to mitigate issues of poor working conditions, teacher retention, and consequently, promote positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Visual Representation in Mathematics: Special Education Teachers’ Knowledge and Emphasis for Instruction

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Amy Scheuermann ◽  
Apryl Poch ◽  
Mary M. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
K 12

The use of visual representations (VRs) in mathematics is a strongly recommended practice in special education. Although recommended, little is known about special educators’ knowledge of and instructional emphasis about VRs. Therefore, in this study, the authors examined special educators’ own knowledge of and their instructional emphasis with VRs in mathematics for students with disabilities (SWDs) in Grades K-12. A total of 146 teachers (pre- and in-service) responded to an online survey. A mixed methods triangulation research design was utilized. Findings include the following: (a) teachers hold conceptions about VRs and the roles they serve in problem solving; their ideas, however, lack depth and are narrow in perspective; (b) what teachers emphasize about VRs to SWDs tends to match their own conceptions, but the explanations they provide for SWDs need expanding and refinement; and (c) given their narrow conceptions, VRs may be limited to a peripheral role in special educators’ instruction.

Attitudes and Attributes of General Education Teachers Identified as Effective Inclusionists

1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myrna R. Olson ◽  
Lynne Chalmers ◽  
John H. Hoover
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
General Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
School Principals ◽  
General Education Teachers ◽  
Administrative Practices ◽  
Insufficient Time ◽  
Interpersonal Warmth

School principals and special education teachers identified general education teachers who were the most skilled at including students with disabilities in their classrooms. After 10 individuals identified by both principals and special educators were interviewed, seven themes emerged. These teachers (a) described their own personalities as tolerant, reflective, and flexible; (b) accepted responsibility for all students; (c) described a positive working relationship with special educators; (d) reported adjusting expectations for integrated students; (e) indicated that their primary inclusionary attitude was showing interpersonal warmth and acceptance in their interactions with students; (f) felt that there was insufficient time available for collaboration; and (g) expressed reservations about fully including all students. Results are discussed in terms of teacher preparation, administrative practices, implications for increased inclusion, and suggestions for further research.

Preparing Critical, Secondary Special Educators

2017 ◽  
pp. 100-119
Author(s):  
Danielle M. Cowley
Keyword(s):  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Critical Thought ◽  
Disability Studies In Education ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
University Course

In this chapter the author explores teacher preparation as the logical site for cultivating praxis for secondary inclusive education. The author describes a university course on inclusive education for preparing critical special education teachers. The author offers disability studies in education (DSE) as a theoretical framework for supporting critical thought and creating just and inclusive educational practices for students with disabilities in P-21 settings. The author then outlines two themes that ground the architectural design of the course: re/thinking students (person-first narratives of disability) and re/designing pedagogy (Universal Design for Learning). According to Smith (2009), DSE “sees oppression and prejudice in sociocultural contexts and seeks to address those concerns” (p. 215). In preparing critical special educators it is our job to help students not only “see” the oppression of exclusion, but to provide them with concrete ways to create change and remain resilient.

Examining the Impact of Professional Development on the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction for General and Special Educators

Inclusion ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-133
Author(s):  
Erin K. Bojanek ◽  
Sheida K. Raley ◽  
Karrie A. Shogren ◽  
Kathleen Lynne Lane
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Professional Development Training ◽  
The Impact

Abstract There is limited research examining professional development for general and special education teachers implementing self-determination interventions. This study presents outcomes of a 2-day professional development training for the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) for general and special educators guided by key elements of professional development. Results suggested teachers had positive perceptions of the training and showed improvements in knowledge and skills related to self-determination, but reported no change in perceived usefulness for students. Findings suggested teachers already perceived self-determination to be important and relevant to their students and that this professional development training was successful in improving teachers' knowledge and skills. Further research is needed to examine how this training impacts teacher implementation of the SDLMI and student outcomes.

scholarly journals Adult MOOC Learners as Self-Directed: Perceptions of Motivation, Success, and Completion

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Loizzo ◽  
Peggy A. Ertmer ◽  
William R. Watson ◽  
Sunnie Lee Watson
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Instructional Design ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Adult Learner ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Directed Learning

Despite the increased attention given to MOOCs over the last four years, learners’ voices have been noticeably absent. This virtual ethnographic study was designed to examine the experiences of 12 adult learners with bachelors’ and masters’ degrees, enrolled in a four-week MOOC on the topic of human trafficking. Through the lenses of self-directed learning and self-determination theories, we were interested in investigating learners’ motivations for enrolling in the MOOC, their perceptions of success and completion, and barriers encountered while trying to complete the MOOC. Reasons for enrollment varied from personal enjoyment to professional development, and differing definitions emerged regarding completion or success in a MOOC. Implications of this study include a proposed conceptual framework of adult learner MOOC motivations and goals, which may inform the intentional instructional design of MOOCs to better meet adults’ self-directed learning needs. Results also pointed to the potential for social science MOOCs to promote activism and attitudinal and social change.

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