The Australian Curriculum

2015 ◽  
pp. 161-180
Author(s):  
Karyn Carson ◽  
Peter Walker
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Diverse Learners ◽  
Comprehensive Assessment ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Australian Curriculum ◽  
Curriculum Assessment ◽  
Starting Point

A distinct synergy exists between pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, and reporting. The implementation of the new Australian Curriculum F-10 (henceforth abbreviated as “Australian Curriculum”) has provided both opportunities and challenges for ensuring that the needs of diverse learners are strongly addressed within inclusive education settings. This chapter illuminates specific issues related to the comprehensive assessment of diverse learners including national inconsistencies in the provision of accommodations, the use of the general capabilities as a starting point rather than a curriculum adjustment point, and the paucity of resources and professional learning opportunities supporting inclusive assessment practices. Recommendations are provided to demonstrate how educators can achieve effective student-centred assessment practices for diverse learners using the Australian Curriculum across and within different contexts.

Factors to Consider while Teaching Early Numeracy Skills in an Inclusive Education Setting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheri-Lynn Skwarchuk
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Diverse Learners ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Early Numeracy ◽  
School Career ◽  
School Teaching ◽  
Numeracy Skills ◽  
Mathematics Coursework ◽  
Ongoing Assessment

Developing numeracy skills from the beginning of one’s school career predicts academic achievement and correlates with life satisfaction in adulthood. For these reasons, all students should be afforded a strong early numeracy foundation. In school, teaching practices supporting diverse learners in mathematics should consider individual developmental capabilities and a growth mindset. Students should also be supported by a pedagogically knowledgeable and strengths-based collaborative team and accurate and ongoing assessment practices. With such supports, students may be afforded maximum opportunities to develop solid early numeracy skills, continue their development of conceptual and calculational knowledge in school mathematics coursework, and minimize anxieties regarding mathematics learning.

scholarly journals Conceptualising inclusive education in Saudi Arabia through conversations with special education teachers

2021 ◽  
pp. 136548022110217
Author(s):  
Kathryn Gibbs ◽  
Ali Bozaid
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
General Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
General Education Teachers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Special Needs Education ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Students With Autism

In the last decade, inclusive education (IE) has become a trending topic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This small-scale, qualitative Saudi study reports on how some teachers view IE in their country and whether students with a disability (autism) could be educated in mainstream schools. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded using a smartphone. The analysis of interview data identified three themes related to IE and the concept of mainstream schooling for students with autism. Findings showed that the participants had some knowledge and understanding of IE. However, whether students with autism could be taught by general education teachers in mainstream schools reported mixed results. Some teachers spoke positively about the possibility, while others focused on existing barriers. These included the need for general education teachers to receive specialised training and professional learning in the form of authentic mentoring networks, training in special needs education to link theory with practice and how the scarcity of classroom resources hampers quality educational experiences and outcomes for some students. These findings provide a starting point for further research into the emerging phase of IE in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Supporting Primary and Secondary Teachers to Deliver Inclusive Education Educatio

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 92-107
Author(s):  
Jill Duncan ◽  
◽  
Renée Punch ◽  
Nic Croce ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Instructional Leaders ◽  
Strong Indication ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Closed Set ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
The Government ◽  
Supporting Teachers

With Australian disability discrimination legislation and educational policy promoting movement toward inclusive education, the building and supporting of inclusive education workforce capability is of paramount importance. This study investigated how principals in Australian primary and secondary educational settings support teachers to provide inclusive education and what these principals perceive to be barriers to supporting the education workforce to deliver inclusive education. The study used an online open- and closed-set survey. The findings demonstrated that principals in educational settings across the government, Catholic and independent sectors and across geographical regions offered largely similar professional learning opportunities to their staff, and expressed similar views about barriers and principals’ roles in supporting their teachers to deliver inclusive education. Participants overwhelmingly reported that their role in building teacher capability was as instructional leaders and brokers of workforce professional learning. There was a strong indication by principals of the need for teachers’ knowledge and skills to be developed and of the need for high quality, effective ongoing professional learning. Participants reported barriers to supporting teachers to deliver inclusive education, most commonly an insufficiency of time, finances, and access. Recommendations for better supporting teachers in primary and secondary settings to deliver inclusive education are made

Getting up to SpEED: Special Education Embodied Design for Sensorially Equitable Inclusion

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-136
Author(s):  
Sofia Tancredi ◽  
Rachel Chen ◽  
Christina Krause ◽  
Dor Abrahamson ◽  
Filippo Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Special Education Students ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Design Based Research ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Design Speed

We present the implications of a novel approach to design-based research, Special Education Embodied Design (SpEED), for inclusive education. SpEED is a new way of thinking about how Special Education students can learn through whole-body participation (Tancredi et al., in press). The goal of SpEED is to update our thinking about special education and inclusion based on the latest developments in cognitive science. We illustrate the utility of embodied design to teaching and research on issues affecting learners in Special Education through examples centering different Special Education populations, including Deaf learners, learners on the autism spectrum, and sensory-seeking learners. Each project focuses on deepening the learning opportunities we offer students by using learners' existing embodied resources. We conclude with a commentary on considerations for implementing SpEED within the Italian educational system.

Academic's perceptions of work-integrated learning in non-vocational disciplines

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle A. Lloyd ◽  
Bonnie Amelia Dean ◽  
Michelle J. Eady ◽  
Conor West ◽  
Venkata Yanamandram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Learning ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

PurposeWork-integrated learning (WIL) is a strategy that enhances student learning and employability by engaging students in real-world settings, applications and practices. Through WIL, tertiary education institutions forge partnerships with industry to provide students with access to activities that will contribute to their career-readiness and personal growth. The purpose of the paper is to explore academics perceptions of WIL from non-vocational disciplines, where WIL opportunities are less prevalent.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a qualitative, case-study methodology to unpack academics' reflections on the question “What does WIL mean to you?” Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 subject coordinators across a number of non-vocational degrees at one university in Australia. Open coding and thematic analysis was used to explore qualitative data and identify common themes.FindingsData suggest that academics largely have placement-based understandings of WIL that cause tensions for embedding WIL meaningfully in their courses. Tensions surface when WIL is perceived as a pedagogy that contributes to the neoliberal agenda that sits in conflict with theoretical approaches and that restrict notions of career.Originality/valueAlthough WIL is not relevant in all subjects, these understandings are a useful starting point to introduce WIL meaningfully, in various ways and where appropriate, in order to provide students opportunities for learning and employability development. The paper has implications for faculty, professional learning and institutional strategies concerning WIL for all students.

Implementing the Australian Curriculum for Students With Disabilities in Specialist Settings: Teachers’ Professional Learning Experiences and Preferences

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (02) ◽  
pp. 127-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. McMillan ◽  
Karyn L. Carson ◽  
Peter M. Walker ◽  
Anna G. Noble ◽  
Jane M. Jarvis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Communities ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Special Schools ◽  
Australian Curriculum ◽  
Perceived Needs ◽  
Policy Practice

Commentary on the introduction of the Australian Curriculum (AC) has reflected a tension for educators of students with disabilities (SWD) between in-principle support for a curriculum that is inclusive of all students and the challenge of translating a general framework into relevant, individualised learning experiences appropriate for all SWD. In this paper, we report on findings from the second part of a national online survey in which we explored the perceptions and practices of 151 educators of SWD in specialist settings (special schools, disability units co-located at mainstream schools, special classes within mainstream schools) in relation to the AC. Specifically, these findings relate to the professional learning (PL) experiences and perceived needs of educators of SWD related to the AC and their advice to policymakers about the AC for SWD. Consistent with previous research, participants expressed a preference for PL experiences delivered on site, facilitated by content experts over extended periods, with opportunities for demonstration and targeted feedback, and in the context of collegial learning communities. In addition, participants raised concerns about the extent to which the AC is fully inclusive of all SWD. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals TEACHER EDUCATION FOR INCLUSION - THE PREMISES FOR IMPLEMENTING A NEW INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMME / PRIELAIDOS ĮGYVENDINTI NAUJĄ MOKYTOJŲ RENGIMO PROGRAMĄ: INKLIUZINIS UGDYMAS MOKYKLOJE

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (35) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Elena Marin
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
School System ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
National Level ◽  
Training System ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Initial Teacher Training ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Training Programmes

<p><span>This paper attempts to highlight and examine the Romanian perspective regarding inclusive education by presenting some statistical data and the steps that have been made in order to make the switch from a school system lead by the segregation principle to a school system based on inclusive principles. Moreover, the attention focuses on schools` key actors, the teacher, more specifically on the initial teachers training programmes available in Romania. The starting point when it come to the initial teacher training programmes is based on the assumption that there is an acute need for training when it comes to the implementation of an inclusive educational system in Romania. Using a qualitative approach, we aimed at presenting specialists’ opinion on priority issues in policy development regarding the teacher training in the field of inclusive education, </span><span>focusing on </span><span>the premises for implementing a training system that is mandatory for every teacher in the inclusive education and on the aspects that relate to the rethinking of the teacher’s training process at a national level.</span></p><p><span lang="RO"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p><span lang="RO"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Straipsnyje bandoma analizuoti inkliuzinio ugdymo diegimą Rumunijoje: pateikiama statistinių duomenų ir aprašoma, kokių veiksmų buvo imtasi pereinant nuo segregacijos principu pagrįstos ugdymo sistemos mokykloje prie inkliuzijos principais grindžiamos sistemos. Dėmesys kreipiamas į mokytojus ir mokytojų pirminio rengimo programas.<br />Mokytojų pirminis rengimas Rumunijoje remiasi prielaida, kad, siekiant įdiegti inkliuzinio ugdymo sistemą, tokių mokytojų rengimo poreikis yra labai didelis. Kokybiniu tyrimu buvo siekiama pateikti specialistų nuomonę dėl inkliuzinio ugdymo mokytojų rengimo politikos prioritetų, atkreipiamas dėmesys į tokių specialistų rengimo, privalomo kiekvienam inkliuzinį ugdymą taikančiam mokytojui, sistemos įdiegimo sąlygas<br />ir aspektus, susijusius su mokytojų rengimo proceso reformavimu nacionaliniu lygmeniu.</span></span></p>

scholarly journals Evolution and research trends of inclusive museum studies: a bibliometric approach

Kepes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 161-192
Author(s):  
Jackeline Valencia Arias ◽  
Alejandro Valencia-Arias ◽  
Danny Zurc
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Museum Studies ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Cultural Institutions ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
University Communities ◽  
Bibliometric Approach ◽  
Shed Light

Inclusion is defined as the opportunity disabled people have to fully participate in different contexts: education, work, consumption, entertainment, and other daily social activities. For an understanding of that, this study aims at examine the evolution and research trends of the field of inclusive museums in order propose a line of research that includes growing and emerging concepts in this area of knowledge. For that purpose, technological mapping was carried out by means of a bibliometric analysis that examined 284 publications indexed in Scopus from 1987 to 2018. Results indicate that 47 countries have carried out studies on inclusive museums, within the framework of the research lines inclusive education and education in museums. Research that has been disseminated in greater measure through American journals. This bibliometric study on inclusive museums enabled to shed light on the productivity, impact, and networking of researchers in this field. Finally, this study constitutes a relevant starting point that not only presents trends in the field of inclusive museums but also encourages university communities and cultural institutions (such as Latin American museums) to consider the role they play in said area, as well as the visibility of their research efforts.

scholarly journals A social-cognitive study of Indonesian Google educator groups

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Pratiwi Artati
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Educational Technology ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Technological Environment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Education Groups

<p>Self-directed professional learning is distinct from the traditional approach of directed professional development. The introduction of the Internet into Indonesian society provides the opportunity for teachers to use digital tools for their teaching and to access professional learning without attending mandated professional development. An emerging phenomenon in Indonesia is the establishment and use of Google Education Groups (GEGs) for professional learning about the use of educational technology (ed-tech) in the schooling sector. Two research questions guided the examination of Indonesian educators’ experiences of GEGs: (1) how do Indonesian educators participate in the GEGs for ed-tech professional learning? and (2) how do the GEGs function to enable Indonesian educators’ ed-tech professional learning? Collective case study methodology was applied, and three Google Education Groups were examined, one from a metropolitan area, one from an urban area and the third from a rural context. In each case study, the leader of the group and three group members with varying levels of online engagement were interviewed and online forum conversations were examined. Data were analysed using Stake’s method of categorical aggregation leading to within-case assertions and cross-case analysis. A social cognitive perspective was used as a framework to analyse and interpret findings. It was found that the Indonesian educators had an agentic approach to professional learning, which was context-dependent with three major interrelated aspects: the regional-technological environment as context, the individuals as agentic learners, and the connectedness as social learners enabled meaningful learning experiences. The regional-technological environment influenced how the GEGs functioned. The Metropolitan group was innovative and collaborative, focusing on the use of web-based tools to improve productivity of ed-tech practices. The Urban group aimed to explore how they could use web-based tools to improve efficiency through paperless classroom practices and school administration. The Rural group sought to use of web-based tools for simple teaching and learning practices within a context of low bandwidth and limited ICT infrastructure. In addition, certain conditions that support online collaboration and factors that can minimise and optimise ed-tech learning opportunities are identified. Participants overcame limitations and constraints by enacting agency and developing social connectedness in learning through the groups. The group leadership positions were voluntary and found to be driven by a desire to share expertise and practices that support, inspire, and empower others rather than about gaining positional authority. Participation in online informal groups such as Google Education Groups appears to be a supportive method of professional learning that facilitates agentic and experiential learning about the use of educational technology in Indonesia. This model can enhance professional learning opportunities for Indonesian educators. It can also be implemented into the design of government-supported ed-tech PD programmes, to create an empowering and safe learning environment that can optimise their potential in learning and improve practice.</p>

scholarly journals Lifelong Inclusive Education Service System in the Context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. p120
Author(s):  
Feng -Xia ◽  
Yongfen -Gu ◽  
Meixian -Huang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Macroscopic System ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
The People ◽  
Education Service ◽  
Output Efficiency ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Future Education

Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is issued by the United Nations in 2015, put forward 17 goals for sustainable development to promote worldwide peace and freedom. Among the 17 goals, one goes to the education vision, stating that “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. This goal further and clearly describes the features of the future education: lifelong, inclusive, fair and high-quality. To make the dream true, every country should rethink the present education service and make reforms based on the national situation. In this context, this paper discusses the direction, construction, objects and layout of a lifelong inclusive education service suitable for present China’s national conditions, in hope of contributing Chinese wisdom to the “Community of shared future for mankind”. It is suggested in this paper that we should give priority to the construction and perfection of the macroscopic system and operating mechanisms for the lifelong inclusive education service in consideration of input and output efficiency; that we should update our mind and think of the education from a new perspective, that is, regard the lifelong inclusive education service as part of public service for all the people; that we should provide suitable education service for all students, regardless of age, race, disability, gender and wealth; that we should design and implement the educational projects reasonably and scientifically in order to better realize the goal.

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