Designing and Implementing an In-Service Training Course for School Teams on Inclusive Education: Reflections from Participants

Significant and effective implementation of inclusive education (IE) has been a major challenge in many countries during the last decades. Although teachers’ knowledge and skills are considered a key factor for successful inclusive practice, the whole school staff commitment and contribution to implementing IE policies are equally important. Collaboration between different professionals such as teachers, school leaders, and support specialists is crucial. This study aimed to design and implement an in-service training course for school teams (teachers, support specialists, school leaders) on IE in the Estonian context and to explore how participants experienced learning as a team in this course. The results of this study showed that the main aspects of the in-service training for school teams valued by participants were: (1) All topics covered in a systematic and coherent way gave a good opportunity to focus on relevant issues, which should be considered in the schools’ self-development activities in the field of IE; (2) practical approach to training structure helped to identify priority areas that need to be developed in particular schools; (3) learning from each other both within their own school team and across school teams contributed to finding the best solutions for meaningful implementation of IE. The implication of these findings is further discussed in the paper.

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Survey on the attitude of general education teachers towards the inclusive education

Pedagogical Almanac ◽

10.54664/drzv1233 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Alexandar Krastev ◽

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Keyword(s):

General Education ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

General Education Teachers ◽

Educational Environment ◽

Mainstream Teachers ◽

Whole School ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Service Training ◽

Whole School Approach ◽

Education Support

The report addresses some of the problems associated with attitudes towards inclusive education among mainstream teachers. The role of the general education teacher in the process of inclusion is analyzed. Knowledge of the inclusive education standard and its application in practice. The research raises several global questions: What are the attitudes of general education teachers towards inclusive education and its application in practice?; To what extent do general education teachers feel prepared and motivated to work in an inclusive educational environment? Does inclusive education support the whole school approach to implementing the process of inclusion in mainstream education? The survey revealed a positive attitude towards inclusive education among teachers. The large percentage of them still do not feel well prepared. The need for methodological support remains crucial. The willingness of teachers to implement the whole school approach and co-teaching as tools to improve the inclusive educational environment is interesting. The survey answered that pre-service training has a close relationship with the attitudes and attitudes of general education teachers in the inclusion process

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Chilean Teachers’ Attitudes towards Inclusive Education, Intention, and Self-Efficacy to Implement Inclusive Practices

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13042300 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 2300

Author(s):

Constanza San Martin ◽

Chenda Ramirez ◽

Rubén Calvo ◽

Yolanda Muñoz-Martínez ◽

Umesh Sharma

Keyword(s):

Inclusive Education ◽

Special Education Teachers ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Efficacy Beliefs ◽

Inclusive Classrooms ◽

Inclusive Practices ◽

Teacher Qualification ◽

Service Training ◽

Teachers Attitudes ◽

Attitudes Towards Inclusion

Teachers play an important role in the success of inclusive practices for diverse learners in regular classrooms. It is, therefore, important to examine their beliefs and preparation to teach in inclusive classrooms. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the attitude of active Chilean teachers (n = 569) towards inclusion, their self-efficacy regarding inclusive practices, and their intention to teach in inclusive classrooms. Our secondary objectives were to explore the relationship between their attitudes and self-efficacy and to determine the influence of demographic and professional variables on these two constructs. A positive and significant relationship between teachers’ attitude and self-efficacy was found. Teacher qualification was not significantly related to attitudes towards inclusion but was negatively associated with their self-efficacy beliefs concerning inclusive practices. Secondary education teachers reported lower teaching efficacy beliefs for inclusion than pre-school, primary, and special education teachers. The type of school emerged as a significant predictor of teachers’ attitude and self-efficacy beliefs. The implications of this research and need for additional teacher and in-service training to improve educators’ attitudes and self-efficacy are discussed.

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Psychological enlightenment of subjects of the inclusive educational process

Journal of Pedagogical Innovations ◽

10.15293/1812-9463.2101.09 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 87-93

Author(s):

Alevtina Gennadievna Ryapisova ◽

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Svetlana Olegovna Yakushenko ◽

Keyword(s):

Inclusive Education ◽

Educational Process ◽

Professional Activity ◽

Educational Organization ◽

Thematic Content ◽

Inclusive Practice ◽

Research Activities ◽

Different Ages ◽

Psychological Knowledge

The article presents the main results of research activities devoted to the implementation of the labor function of a teacher-psychologist – psychological enlightenment in an inclusive practice. The key concept is defined: psychological enlightenment is understood as a type of professional activity of a teacher-psychologist, which provides for the dissemination of scientific psychological knowledge, contributes to the expansion of horizons and the development of the value attitude of individuals and groups of people to the phenomena in the educational space. The purpose of the study is to characterize the actual aspects of the content and adequate forms and methods of psychological enlightenment in the context of inclusive practice. Thematic content, various forms and methods of psychological enlightenment of subjects of inclusive education – teachers, parents and students of different ages-are proposed. As an author’s result, a project of the activity of a teacher-psychologist on the organization of psychological enlightenment on the basis of a calendar of events related to inclusive education was developed. On the basis of calendar and thematic planning, recommendations for organizing outreach activities in an educational organization that implements inclusive education are proposed.

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Students with disability perspectives towards inclusive education at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait: Barriers and challenges: اتجاهات الطلبة ذوي الإعاقة تجاه الدمج التعليمي في كلية التربية الأساسية في دولة الكويت: العوائق والتحديات

المجلة العربية للعلوم ونشر الأبحاث مجلة العلوم التربوية والنفسية ◽

10.26389/ajsrp.n150820 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (41) ◽

pp. 218-200

Author(s):

Nouf Salem Alenezi, Bader Jassim Alqallaf, Hamed Jassim Alsa Nouf Salem Alenezi, Bader Jassim Alqallaf, Hamed Jassim Alsa

Keyword(s):

Students With Disabilities ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

Basic Education ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Visual Disability ◽

Social Barriers ◽

Data Coding ◽

Inclusive Practice ◽

College Of Basic Education ◽

Barriers And Challenges

This research is a qualitative interpretive case study focuses on the perspectives of (6) students with physical and visual disability who study at college of basic education in Kuwait. It sought to elicit the “voice” of students with disabilities, seeking to identify their experiences of inclusive practice and any barriers to participation. The researchers conducted semi structured interviews. It was processed and analysed through data coding, categorising and emergence of themes. Participants of the current study showed a willingness towards the concept of inclusion with some concerns, which include the cultural, structural, and social barriers of implementing inclusive education. The results of this study emphasise the importance of increasing the knowledge of inclusion and how to deal with students with disability. Overall, recommendations include a need for training courses for the faculty members at the College of Basic Education in the field of disability and inclusion.

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Collaborating for Inclusion: The Intersecting Roles of Teachers, Teacher Education, and School Leaders in Translating Research into Practice

Exceptionality Education International ◽

10.5206/eei.v30i2.11080 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 32-50

Author(s):

Donna McGhie-Richmond ◽

Fizza Haider

Keyword(s):

Teacher Education ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

Positive Impact ◽

School Leaders ◽

System Level ◽

Teacher Education Programs ◽

Knowledge Mobilization ◽

Inclusive Practices ◽

Key Stakeholders

Despite empirical research pointing toward the positive impact of an inclusive instructional approach and practices on all students’ learning and social participation, educators and schools lag in adopting these approaches and strategies. For the purpose of knowledge mobilization, it is important to examine the factors that influence this research-to-practice gap. With this aim, we first outline the significant role of teachers and teacher education in implementing inclusive practices. We then synthesize findings from previous literature identifying both individual and contextual, system-level influences that impede the implementation of evidence-based inclusive practices by teachers. We emphasize the prominent role of school leaders in removing some of these barriers by supporting teachers and collaborating with key stakeholders. Further research is needed to explore the complex, interrelated factors that foster collaboration among school leaders, teachers, and teacher education programs in order to advance the development of truly inclusive education systems.

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The needs analysis for learning autonomotive supports of the secondary school teachersOrtaokul öğretmenlerinin öğrenen özerkliğini desteklemelerine yönelik ihtiyaç analizi

Journal of Human Sciences ◽

10.14687/jhs.v14i4.5028 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 4393

Author(s):

Aytunga Oğuz ◽

Nazlı Dönmez

Keyword(s):

Secondary School ◽

Autonomy Support ◽

Secondary School Teachers ◽

Approaches To Learning ◽

Educational Status ◽

Learning Approaches ◽

Constructivist Approach ◽

School Teachers ◽

Training Course ◽

Service Training

The changes in the education in the recent years have shown a shift from teacher-centered learning approaches to learning environments to the constructivist approach to which learners are centralized. The provision of learning autonomy can occur when the learner is still "active" using the constructivist approach. Learners must be supported to make learners "active". The research’s aim is to define the level of teachers' perceptions and behaviors of support for learning autonomy and to examine these levels according to some variables like “gender”, “seniority”, “educational status” and “studying any "in-service " education or not”. The research was conducted on a screening model. In this study, "Learning Autonomy Support Scale" was used to collect data from teachers. The scale was developed by Oğuz in 2013. The scale has a 3-factor structure. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H tests were used as nonparametric analysis techniques. Also, some descriptive operations such as arithmetic mean and standard deviation were applied in the process of data analysis. The findings show that the secondary school teachers are “always” at the level of supporting the learning autonomy, but “all times” at the level of supporting the learning autonomy. Furthermore, there are important differences in the level of learning autonomy support behaviors compared to the variables of "seniority", "learning status", and "in-service training / course or seminar receiving" at the level of learning autonomy supporting behaviors, even though gender was not an important influence in supporting teachers' learning autonomy. In addition, although there is no significant effect of the "gender" variable on teachers' learning autonomy support behaviors, the levels of autonomy support behaviors, compared to the variables of "experience", "education status" and "in-service training / course or seminar reception", have important different effects.Extended English abstract is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file.ÖzetSon yılardaki eğitim alanındaki değişimler doğrultusunda öğrenme ortamlarında öğretmen merkezli öğrenme yaklaşımlarından, öğrencinin merkeze alındığı yapılandırmacı yaklaşıma doğru bir geçiş görülmektedir. Öğrenen özerkliğinin sağlanması, yapılandırmacı yaklaşım tarafından öğrenenin “aktif” hala getirilmesiyle ortaya çıkabilir. Öğrenenin “aktif” hale getirilmesi için de öğrenen desteklenmelidir. Bu araştırmada amaç, ortaokul öğretmenlerinin öğrenen özerkliğini destekleme davranışlarını gerekli görme ve sergileme düzeylerini belirlemek ve bu düzeyleri cinsiyet, kıdem, öğrenim durumu ve “hizmet içi eğitim/ kurs ya da seminer alma durumu” değişkenlerine göre incelemektir. Araştırma, tarama modelinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, öğretmenlerden veri toplamak için “Öğrenen Özerkliğini Destekleme Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. “Öğrenen Özerkliğini Destekleme Ölçeği” Oğuz (2013) tarafından geliştirilmiştir. Verilerin çözümlenmesinde aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma gibi betimsel işlemler ile parametrik olmayan analiz tekniklerinden Mann Whitney U ve Kruskal Wallis H testleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgulardan yola çıkarak, ortaokul öğretmenlerinin öğrenen özerkliğini desteklemeyi her zaman düzeyinde gerekli bulduğu ancak öğrenen özerkliğini desteklemeyi çoğu zaman düzeyinde sergiledikleri söylenebilir. Bunun yanında, öğretmenlerin öğrenen özerkliğini desteklenme davranışlarında “cinsiyet” değişkeninin önemli bir etkisi olmamasına rağmen, özerkliği destekleme davranışları düzeylerinde “kıdem”, “öğrenim durumu” ve “hizmet içi eğitim/ kurs ya da seminer alma durumuna” değişkenine göre anlamlı farklılıklar olduğu görülmüştür.

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