Inclusive education as seen by mainstream preschool teachers

2020 ◽  
Vol LXXXI (2) ◽  
pp. 85-98
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Paradowska

Despite the fact that the process of inclusive education implementation has been taking place in Poland for a few years now, it still encounters a lot of obstacles relating to, among other things, the readiness of mainstream settings, including teachers, for inclusion. For this process to be successful, teachers’ attitudes to the idea of inclusive education are also important. The primary purpose of the study was to explore the opinions of mainstream preschool teachers on selected aspects of inclusive education for students with disabilities. The study covered 76 preschool teachers. A diagnostic survey was used in the study. The findings showed that mainstream preschool teachers (generally) supported the idea of inclusive education for students with disabilities to a small extent only (i.e., a little bit below the average). This opinion correlated positively with a sense of readiness for specific tasks relating to the education of students with disabilities and providing it in an educational setting as well as with having formal teacher education in this area. The study also showed that mainstream preschool teachers were relatively most favorably inclined (however, only around the average) toward inclusive preschool education for students with mild intellectual disabilities, and least favorably - for students with multiple disabilities and blind students. The findings confirmed the reports found in the literature regarding significant gaps in preparation for tasks relating to the education of students with disabilities felt by mainstream preschool teachers. They also confirmed the fact that the vast majority of teachers saw many obstacles to the implementation of inclusive education in preschool, in particular relating to: specialists (mainly lack of specialists), too large preschool groups, and school space (mainly architectural barriers). Moreover, the findings showed that only a small number of teachers saw advantages of inclusive education - subject to specific conditions, though. The study findings suggest that it is necessary to provide more effective, specialist support for mainstream preschool teachers in their work with students/children with disabilities and to introduce changes in preschool teacher training at the college level.

Author(s):  
Jun (AJ) Ai ◽  
Jihong Zhang ◽  
Eva Horn ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
Jingjing Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract The purpose of this study was to understand the status and influential factors of preschool teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education, given the evidence that attitudes predict successful inclusion for young children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. We translated the Multidimensional Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale (MATIES, Mahat, 2008) to Simplified Chinese (MATIES-C). We then administered the MATIE-C to a representative sample of in-service preschool teachers (N = 481) in Beijing, China. The confirmative factor analysis and reliability tests suggested an acceptable construct validity and internal reliability of the MATIES-C. We also found preschool teachers in Beijing held positive attitudes towards inclusion across cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of attitudes. The ANOVA results indicate teachers' experience and knowledge about children with disabilities had statistically positive associations with favorable attitudes. Preschool area, teacher age, and educational background were also found to have a statistically significant impact on teacher attitudes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53
Author(s):  
Anastasija Mamutović ◽  
Zorica Stanisavljević-Petrović ◽  
Marija Marković

Today's society is characterized by the expansion of scientific and technological development, leading to changes in the conception of educational work at all levels of education. The integration of digital technology is aimed at modernizing the education system. In practice, however, even the best designed media tools can quite often prove to have numerous drawbacks. Consequently, there is a need for empirical research into the educational value of digital learning tools. In view of the fact that, apart from parents, preschool teachers are the most important mediators between children and contemporary ICT devices, the aim of our study was to explore preschool teachers' perceptions of the risks and potential negative influences of computer games on children's development, behavior and learning. Teachers' attitudes were analyzed in relation to their educational level, place of work, age, and years of service, in order to identify tendencies linked to changes in the research sample structure. A quantitative approach to result analysis was employed, with a tabular and graphical presentation of the obtained data. Research results suggest teachers believe that excessive use of computer games at preschool level is accompanied by addiction, aggressive thoughts, feelings and insensitivity to scenes of violence in the real world. In contrast, teachers believe that social isolation, passivity, a decline in children's creativity and adverse effects on their physical health are not an inevitable consequence of the excessive use of computer games. As regards statistically significant differences in teachers' attitudes, the results indicate that an increase in the number of years of service and educational level is linked to increased perceptions of the drawbacks relative to the benefits of using computer games. Teachers' place of work is not statistically significant in determining their attitudes to the potential risks of using computer games.


2021 ◽  
Vol LXXXII (4) ◽  
pp. 255-268
Author(s):  
Karolina Mudło-Głagolska

Research shows that teachers' attitudes are a decisive element of the effective inclusion of students with disabilities, thereby conducive to the social adaptation of these students. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education and the social adjustment of students with disabilities. The sample consisted of 79 teachers of early childhood education working in a mainstream school and having a student in their class with a decision on the need for special education. The study used the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale towards Inclusive Education and the Classroom Behaviour Inventory Preschool to Primary. The results obtained in the study allow the conclusion that the positive beliefs of a teacher towards inclusive education (cognitive component of attitude) are most strongly associated with the social adaptation of a student with a disability. The conducted study showed that the teacher's readiness to modify the physical environment, his communication method and the methods of assessment with regard to the student's abilities and needs is related to the social adaptation of students with disabilities in a mainstream class. These aspects seem to be essential for the optimal functioning of a student with a disability in a mainstream class. The role of teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education in shaping the social adjustment of students with disabilities was emphasized.


Author(s):  
Екатерина Михальчи ◽  
Ekaterina Mihal'chi

The manual in a brief reference form includes such aspects of the implementation of higher inclusive education as pedagogical conditions for teaching students with disabilities, technical equipment of the educational process and the regulatory framework of inclusive education, the creation of adapted educational programs of higher education for persons with disabilities and the development of adaptation courses. The manual can be recommended to teachers, staff and administration of higher educational institutions of different profiles, assistants, psychologists, employees of centers of inclusive education and used in conducting briefings on work in inclusive groups.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.V. Volkova ◽  
E.V. Mihalchi

The article provides a classification of pedagogical conditions of realization of inclusive education in the higher education system and their analysis in six universities in Moscow. The study involved 212 students from 1 to 4 year studying in different majors and levels of training. The study was conducted by surveying. To study the teaching conditions two groups were identified in a contingent of students: students with disabilities, and without deviations in health. For the analysis of the data we used correlation and factor analysis. The results of the study confirmed the theoretical structure of the classification and showed differences in the estimates of pedagogical conditions of implementation of inclusive education of students with disabilities, and without them. The theoretical framework for the analysis and classification can be used in practice for the study of pedagogical conditions of implementation of inclusive education in educational institutions of different tupes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (32) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Irina D. Emelyanova ◽  
Svetlana V. Markova ◽  
Olesya A. Podolskaya

An important condition ensuring the adaptability of educational environment, hence, socialization of physically challenged children under inclusive conditions, is the competence of specialists implemented under new professional circumstances. Special attention should be paid to professional competence of specialists under inclusion in the system of preschool education. The theoretical analysis of the issue of professional competence of pedagogues in the practice of inclusive preschool education is reflected in the Russian and foreign researches, which testifies to the topicality of the issue. The research objectives are: to describe the conceptual basis of professional competence of the pedagogues of the system of inclusive preschool education (by the example of combined groups), which consists of cognitive, operational-functional and personality components; to prove the influence of professional competence of the pedagogues under inclusion on socialization of preschool physically challenged children. The practical part of the research was carried out by the following methods: analysis of scientific psychological-pedagogical sources, dissertations on the topic; summarization of theoretical conceptions; comparative analysis of the practices of inclusive education; questioning; interviews with various categories of specialists; analysis of the process and products of activities; mathematical processing of the results. The research results allowed identifying the key features of professional competence of the pedagogues of inclusive preschool educational establishments, which not only provide the efficient psychological-pedagogical support of physically challenged children, but also serve as the condition for socialization of these preschool children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2019-V1-I1) ◽  
pp. 70-85
Author(s):  
Dila Nur Yazıcı

Öz 1983 yılında Özel Eğitime Muhtaç Çocuklar Yasası ile birlikte yasal olarak uygulamalarda yer alması beklenen kaynaştırma eğitimi, bugün okul öncesi eğitimde zorunlu eğitsel bir uygulamadır. Bu makalede, öncelikle kaynaştırma eğitiminin tanımı yapılmış ve kaynaştırma eğitiminin faydaları ile ilgili uluslararası alanyazındaki çalışmalar özetlenmiş, ardından Türkiye’de kaynaştırma eğitimi ve okul öncesinde kaynaştırma eğitimi konularına değinilerek yasal dayanaklarından bahsedilmiştir. Türkiye’de kaynaştırma eğitimiyle ilgili yapılan araştırmalar; (1) okul öncesi öğretmen ve öğretmen adaylarının bilgi, görüş ve tutumları, (2) sınıf içi uygulamalar, (3) sosyal beceriler, (4) derlemeler ve (5) diğer, başlıkları altında ele alınmıştır. Araştırmalar incelendiğinde, okul öncesi öğretmen ve öğretmen adaylarının kaynaştırma eğitimine yönelik olumlu tutuma sahip oldukları; ancak, daha fazla bilgiye gereksinim duydukları, sınıf içi geçişlerde belli başlı uygulamaları gerçekleştirdikleri fakat alanyazındaki uygulamaların hepsini sınıflarında uygulamak için desteğe gereksinim duydukları ve özel gereksinimli çocuklara sunulan sosyal beceri programlarının faydalı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Çalışmanın sonunda uygulamaya yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur. Abstract Inclusion is a compulsory educational practice for preschool children with disabilities in Turkey. In this article, first, the definition of inclusion is provided. Second, the benefits of inclusion are summarized using the international literature. Third, a summary of studies conducted in Turkey in relation to inclusive preschool education is presented followed by a description of the legal basis for inclusion in Turkey. The research focused on inclusive preschool education in Turkey was examined under five categories: (1) opinions and attitudes of preschool teachers and teacher candidates towards inclusion, (2) classroom practices, (3) social skills, (4) research summaries and literature reviews and (5) other studies. An examination of these studies has shown that preschool teachers and teacher candidates have positive attitudes towards inclusion, but they need more information for successful implementation of inclusion. Moreover, preschool teachers implement certain practices with respect to in-class transitions, however, they need more support to apply all recommended practices noted in the literature. In addition, social skills programs provided to children with special needs were beneficial. Recommendations for future practice are presented at the end of the paper.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12823
Author(s):  
Nagwa Babiker Abdalla Yousif ◽  
Enaam Mohammed Youssef ◽  
Rasha Mohamed Abdelrahman

The objective of inclusive education is to increase the quality of social and psychological integration in society of students with disabilities in the learning process. This study aimed to identify the social and psychological effects of inclusive education of students with hearing disabilities at Sharjah University’s Disability Resource Centre. The study adopted a descriptive analytical approach with a purposive sample comprising 24 students with hearing impairment. An electronic questionnaire comprising 25 psychological and social statements and nine open-ended questions was administered to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The results revealed positive correlation coefficients between inclusive education and both psychological adjustment and social interaction and negative relationships between gender and age and both social interaction and psychological adaptation variables (for age ρ = 0.091 and ρ = 0.262 and for gender ρ = 0.47 and ρ = 0.076, respectively). A statistically significant difference of less than 0.05 was found in favour of those who agreed that inclusion affects psychological adaptation. A statistically significant difference of less than 0.05 was found in favour of students who agreed that inclusion affects social interaction. The research results can be used in the practice of inclusive education to determine ways to improve the social and psychological adaptation of students with hearing impairments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 124-134
Author(s):  
Jasmina Milinković ◽  
Marija Vorkapić

The research deals with integrative approach in preschool education. The integrative approach is based on the hollistic perception of the preschool children's world. This approach is one of the key elements of the new concept of preschool education set out in a document entitled "Years of Ascent". The paper looks at the place of mathematical contents in the curriculum as well as the characteristics of the integrative approach which provide the conditions for the initial development of mathematical reasoning. The empirical section of the paper offers the results of the research related to pre-service preschool teachers' attitudes towards the integrative approach. The aim of the paper is to contribute, both theoretically and empirically, to a better understanding of the importance of the preschool teachers' professional competence to implement integrated activities.


SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824401986577
Author(s):  
Osama AlMahdi ◽  
Hanin Bukamal

This study explored pre-service teachers’ attitudes toward inclusive education. The Sentiments, Attitudes, and Concerns about Inclusive Education–Revised (SACIE-R) scale was completed by 138 teacher candidates in a teacher preparation program in Bahrain Teachers College. The findings revealed that candidate teachers needed more opportunities to interact with and teach children with disabilities during their school practicum; they also needed more preparation and knowledge about the educational policies related to these children. Not all the candidate teachers felt confident in their knowledge and skills when dealing with these children. The sentiments of the candidate teachers were generally positive and compassionate to children with disabilities. The attitudes of the candidate teachers were generally positive as well, but there were some apprehensions in regard to including children who show aggressive behavior toward others or those who require communicative technologies in regular classes. The participants had many concerns related to certain aspects of including students with disabilities in the regular classrooms. The findings indicated that there is no significant difference among the study sample in terms of their attitudes, concerns, or sentiments toward inclusion according to the academic year variable (orientation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4) and the specialization variable (no specialization, Cycle 1). There was also a significant negative relationship between level of confidence in teaching students with disabilities and the sentiment aspect, and also with the concerns. There was a significant negative relationship between knowledge of the local policy that relates to children with disabilities and the sentiment aspect.


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