Practice and Innovations of Inclusive Education at School

The article has carried out a meta-analysis of the research concerning practice and innovations of inclusive education at school. Investigation of the practice of inclusive education at schools has been intensified since the 1990s, after identifying the need to implement inclusion strategies and concepts at the international level. The first studies of inclusive education (until the 2000s) concerned beliefs and values as a factor, influencing the effectiveness of inclusion, strategies of inclusive education. Investigations after the 2000s have been aimed at more focused subject matter of the research at the local level in different countries: principals’ beliefs, teachers’ self-efficacy, the role of parental support, school ideology, models of inclusion at private schools, the severity of disability as a factor determining teachers’ beliefs concerning inclusion. Various inclusive models have been formed as a practice result of implementing inclusion. Two key effective approaches to integration of inclusion have been highlighted: integrated and differentiated. An integrated approach involves the introduction of innovations in inclusive education in the following elements of the educational system, namely: the concept (strategy) that defines the model, external preconditions and stages of inclusion; a school that defines the internal prerequisites for inclusion; a community. A differentiated approach is used in combination with theintegrated one in order to identify the internal prerequisites for inclusion: values, beliefs and attitudes of teachers, the competence of educators.

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English in Brazil: Insights from the Analysis of Language Policies, Internationalization Programs and the CLIL Approach

Education and Linguistics Research ◽

10.5296/elr.v2i1.9150 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kyria Finardi ◽

Roberta Leao ◽

Livia Melina Pinheiro

Keyword(s):

English Language ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

English Teachers ◽

English Language Teaching ◽

Language Policies ◽

Teachers Beliefs ◽

Teaching Learning ◽

Globalized World

<p class="Normal1">The paper proposes a reflection on the role of English in the globalized world and its teaching/learning in Brazil. With that aim, the study reviews language policies and internationalization programs in Brazil regarding the role of foreign languages in general and of English in particular. The theoretical framework includes a review of an English language teaching (ELT) approach used mainly in Europe, as a result of globalization and internationalization, the Content and Language Integrated Approach (CLIL). In order to support this reflection, a case study was carried out to examine pre-service English teachers’ beliefs on the use of CLIL in Brazil. The results of study show that pre-service English teachers understand the importance of the CLIL approach though they are aware of the various obstacles to its implementation in that context. The study suggests a review of language policies in Brazil so as to ensure a convergence between them and internationalization policies and approaches, at all levels of education. Regarding the ELT approach analyzed, the study concludes that despite the difficulties associated with the implementation of CLIL in Brazil, it represents a relevant alternative in that context.</p>

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Preparing Teachers for Inclusive Education in Botswana: The Role of Professional Development

Journal of International Special Needs Education ◽

10.9782/2159-4341-18.2.60 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 60-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Boitumelo Mangope ◽

Sourav Mukhopadhyay

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

Continuing Professional Development ◽

Mixed Method Research ◽

Development Programs ◽

Special Educational Needs ◽

Depth Interview ◽

Teachers Beliefs ◽

Professional Development Training

Abstract The continuing professional development of teachers is crucial for implementation of inclusive education and improving the quality of educational service delivery of all learners. The purpose of this preliminary study was to explore teachers' beliefs about professional development for inclusive education in two primary and two secondary schools in two educational administrative regions of Botswana. A mixed method research design was utilized to measure teachers' beliefs, current practices of professional development, training needs as well as modes of professional development programs to implement inclusive education. A three part, 25 item self - administered questionnaire was specially designed for this study. It was administered to all participants (N=86) who participated in a three-day workshop on inclusive education. In addition 12 teachers who had had experience in teaching learners with Special Educational Needs (SENs) were purposively selected for a follow-up one-on-one in-depth interview. Both quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated to write this report. Findings of the research suggest that although participants realized the importance of professional development for the implementation of inclusive education, they were of the opinion that ‘one-time workshops’ alone was not effective to change classroom practices. They highlighted the importance of ‘change processes’ therefore recommended ‘in-house mentorship’.

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The role of municipal committees in the development of an integrated urban water policy in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2009.742 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 60 (12) ◽

pp. 3129-3136 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. M. Costa ◽

H. S. M. Costa ◽

J. B. Dias ◽

M. G. Welter

Keyword(s):

Water Policy ◽

Urban Policy ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Water Governance ◽

Local Level ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Research Network ◽

Urban Water ◽

Belo Horizonte

This paper discusses the challenges involved in adopting an integrated approach to urban water policies and management, a particularly problematic issue in Brazil due to the incomplete nature of urbanization, defined as the lack of adequate and/or universalized access to infrastructure and services, informal housing and conflicts between environmental protection and social housing needs. In the last two decades strong social movements have influenced urban environmental policies from national to local levels. In Belo Horizonte since 1993, decision-making processes have involved important mechanisms of democratic inclusion, which have contributed to fairer urban policies. A brief discussion of the concept of governance follows, introducing the municipal urban policy within which drainage and sanitation policies have been implemented. This paper presents the constitutional and institutional role of the five municipal committees dealing with water governance issues, as they are important arenas for civil society participation. The main constraints to achieving integrated urban water governance at the local level and the extent to which such policies are able to reduce social inequalities and promote social environmental justice in the use and appropriation of urban water, are discussed. This paper is part of the SWITCH—Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow's Cities' Health—research network.

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Chronic Pain: Fundamental Scientific Considerations, Specifically for Legal Claims

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2013.janfeb01 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert J. Barth

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Pain Perception ◽

Driving Forces ◽

Psychological Treatment ◽

Dominant Role ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

General Medicine ◽

Pain Syndrome ◽

Problematic Relationship

Abstract Scientific findings have indicated that psychological and social factors are the driving forces behind most chronic benign pain presentations, especially in a claim context, and are relevant to at least three of the AMA Guides publications: AMA Guides to Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation, AMA Guides to Work Ability and Return to Work, and AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The author reviews and summarizes studies that have identified the dominant role of financial, psychological, and other non–general medicine factors in patients who report low back pain. For example, one meta-analysis found that compensation results in an increase in pain perception and a reduction in the ability to benefit from medical and psychological treatment. Other studies have found a correlation between the level of compensation and health outcomes (greater compensation is associated with worse outcomes), and legal systems that discourage compensation for pain produce better health outcomes. One study found that, among persons with carpal tunnel syndrome, claimants had worse outcomes than nonclaimants despite receiving more treatment; another examined the problematic relationship between complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and compensation and found that cases of CRPS are dominated by legal claims, a disparity that highlights the dominant role of compensation. Workers’ compensation claimants are almost never evaluated for personality disorders or mental illness. The article concludes with recommendations that evaluators can consider in individual cases.

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