scholarly journals The Framework of Action for Teachers in Integration Classes at Secondary Level on the Example of Reading/Writing Difficulties – A (Re-) Constructionist Educational Research

Author(s):  
Florentine Paudel

Background: Reading/writing difficulties are embedded in a broad discourse that is related to dyslexia. Therefore, this discourse serves as the basis for the presented study. Because of the results from the scientific community, one of the questions of this study is of possible interdependencies or differences to the pedagogical discourse of teachers. Teachers in Austria, where the study was conducted, are confronted with those scientific findings. The term reading/writing difficulties in the Austrian context refers to the criticism of the discrepancy criterion and is used there in the pedagogical context. Furthermore, this contribution assumes that teachers construct their framework of action. Linked to this is an epistemological perspective on social constructivism. Aim: The aim of this piece of research is to reconstruct the framework of action for teachers in integration classes at secondary level. In integration classes in Austria can teach up to three teachers. In this context, the question arises as to how these human resources are used by three teachers (teacher for German, the special education needs teacher and the support teacher) regarding reading/writing difficulties. Methodology: Methodologically, the work is based on reconstructive social research according to Bohnsack. Associated with this is theory formation from the data material. The narrative-based interviews (n=8) were evaluated using the documentary method. The reconstructed action framework enables a differentiated presentation of the orientations and options for action of teachers in integration classes at secondary level. Results: In conclusion, different options of action in connection with difficulties in reading/writing are discussed due to the orientation framework. Regarding the question of possible interdependencies or differences to the pedagogical discourse of teachers, the study shows that the statements made by the teachers are only partially compatible with current findings of the scientific discourse.

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Mihaela Voinea ◽  
Ioana Roxana Topală

Abstract The issue of integrating children with special educational needs in mainstream school depends on several factors. The most important is the support teacher, who is the link between school, family and community, between children and teachers and other specialists. (Avramidis & all 2000, Ainscow 2016, etc.). Teachers need to change their own mind set and system of values according to the new social responsibilities in order to become promoters of human diversity, acceptance and tolerance. Therefore, teacher training must respond diligently to the new teacher’s roles and responsibilities. The main purpose of this research was to identify the training needs for support teachers based on the analysis of their own socio-educational experience (their own role and their particular training needs as support teachers), as well as (mainstream school) teachers’, pupils’ and parents’ perceptions regarding integration. This study was conducted in a mixt methods structure, which employed both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted, with mainstream teachers, on one hand, and parents, on the other hand. We addressed the issues of attitudes towards the integration of children with SEN (special education needs) and the collaboration with the support teacher. Also, focus-group interviews were conducted with support teachers. A number of 112 participants were included in the study (57 teachers from mainstream schools, 20 support teachers, and 35 parents ) Conclusion: Teachers’ and parents’ cognitive schemas regarding what a support teacher can and should do in order to facilitate the integration of children with SEN are different from his/her actual educational role and responsibilities. This gap between the social representations and the actual job description can be bridged by building a more complex and accurate understanding of how every actor involved in the integration process must become aware of one’s personal beliefs and expectations, assume and thoroughly play his/her part in a collaborative manner. Teacher training through transformative learning based on sharing experiences and group projects is a learning experience suitable for developing competences for teachers for special education.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Trimmer ◽  
Roselyn Dixon

In Australia and Europe, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations (NFPOs) have had long involvement in the funding and provision of community disability services. Significant change has occurred in Australia over the past two decades in the way government funds are expended, with marketplace mechanisms increasingly being used. As a consequence of economic and governance imperatives, funding of services via NFPOs has changed significantly with a move away from the provision of grants to the contracting of these organisations for the provision of services. In 2013, a new national policy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), was introduced that has impacts for the provision of disability services for children and their families. In particular, Indigenous families are likely to experience barriers in accessing services. This paper reviews the impact of international changes in policy and associated funding models and considers the impacts and research implications of Australia's initial experience of implementation of the NDIS.


Neofilolog ◽  
1970 ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
Iwona Dronia Iwona Dronia

The main goal of this article is to describe the legal status and situation of disabled learners in Poland, the UK and in other European countries. The author wishes to analyze whether the trends advocated by the principles of Political Correctness (PC) have influenced the language used in the educational context, and, in particular, towards students of special education needs (SEN). The article attempts to demonstrate that neither English nor Polish are sufficiently polite in terms of describing, categorizing, evaluating or naming all the learners, who, owing to their mental or physical impairment, have Special Educational Needs.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document