Leader or Leaderess? Consequences of Using Feminatives for the Perception of Leadership

According to the Implicit Leadership Theory, leadership roles are assigned in the process of social construction and depend upon the level of congruence with the cognitive representation of a leader. Previous studies show that this cognitive representation is much more likely to involve a leader being a male rather than a female. The article presents the results of an experiment aimed at tentatively verifying whether the use of the feminine forms could increase the cognitive availability of the representation of a woman as a leader. In the experiment, 135 teams (N = 307 respondents) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: 1) generic instruction (without the use of feminatives, “Please, draw a leader”), 2) inclusive instruction (using feminatives, “Please, draw a leader/leaderess”). The results showed a significant interaction between the experimental manipulation and the proportion of women in the team. The use of feminine forms increased the percentage of females drawn as leaders only in teams with a high female-to-male ratio.

Examination and Redesign of Inclusive Special Education Service Delivery in a Rural School

In this article, we describe the self-directed change made by a rural elementary school in response to a data-based examination of its service-delivery model that revealed its lowest performing students were spending most of their time with the school’s least qualified staff. This mixed-method case study describes (a) why and how the school shifted personnel deployment and utilization, (b) factors that facilitated the shifts in service delivery, and (c) perceived effects of the changes. Findings demonstrate how implementing data-based decision-making through strong collaborative leadership led to recognizing, exploring, and modifying the school’s overreliance on paraprofessionals by increasing the availability of more highly skilled personnel to facilitate more inclusive instruction and collaboration. Participants also described challenges and perceived negative aspects related to change. We conclude with implications for practice, including how this study could inform similar change efforts in small rural schools, and suggestions for future research.

No child left behind, nor singled out: is it possible to combine adaptive instruction and inclusive pedagogy in early math software?

The article addresses the challenge of combining adaptive and inclusive instruction in early math software, that is, to provide different kinds of support and challenges to different individuals in response to their different needs—yet avoid exposing children (whether far behind or far ahead) as being different. Arguments for adaption as well as inclusion are discussed, and an evaluative user study is conducted in which 42 3- to 6-year-old preschool children made use of a digital play-&-learn game for early math designed to combine adaptive instruction with inclusion during a period of 6 weeks. Data logging, performance measures, observations of children playing, and interviews with teachers are used to evaluate whether the adaptive and inclusive strategies worked out as intended. Results indicate that the goals of inclusion as well as the goals of adaptivity were met. A preliminary conclusion is that it is possible to combine adaptation and inclusion in early math software.

The Administrator’s Role in Universal Design for Learning’s Successful Implementation

Implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a critical issue for public schools in our country. UDL is an inclusive framework based on the science of learning. It supports and removes barriers to learning for all students while maintaining high expectations. Federal education policies have called for inclusive instruction based on UDL principles. Nevertheless, our educators and administrators are not sure they believe in it and do not know what exactly it is or how to implement it with fidelity (Jordan, 2018; Monsen et al., 2014; Russel & Bray, 2013). Previous researchers have found that teachers are more likely to implement inclusive teaching practices such as UDL when they have positive attitudes toward them shaped by their culture, experiences, and training. Administrators have a unique position to influence teacher attitudes by creating an inclusive school culture and providing instructional leadership. UDL benefits all students-not just those with unique needs-by increasing student engagement and removing learning barriers.

Inclusive Education at the Heart of Mainstream Language Pedagogy: Perspectives and Challenges

This research aimed to fill the research gaps surfaced by the dearth of research on implementing inclusive education with regular students in the mainstream language classroom where learners’ diversity and differences exist, and the pedagogical practices and skills of teachers in the delivery of inclusive instruction. It specifically determined the perspectives of the language teachers in explicating their insights about inclusive education which shape the pedagogical practices they employ in the mainstream language classroom amidst the challenges they encounter with regard its implementation. This was further corroborated by the language learners during the cross-validation process of the research. It is an empirical qualitative study that utilised structured interviews crafted through a priori coding as a research instrument. In the data analysis, data member checking for the veracity of interview text was conducted prior to the cool and warm analyses and thematic analysis for the development of codes, themes, or categories essential in the logical arrangement of the information elucidated in this research. The participants’ perspectives highlighted the direct relationship of inclusion and diversity of learners in all aspects. The course facilitators' pedagogical practices emphasised the close association of inclusivity with learner-centered instructional approaches employed in a nurturing climate achieved through inclusive language and threat-free learning atmosphere. The constraints in implementing inclusive education revolved around language, teacher factors (i.e. lack of awareness or inadequacy of training, favoritism or preference, heavy teaching load, etc.), lack of educational resources and facilities, and curriculum.

Inclusive Instruction for Students with Emotional Disturbance: An Investigation of Classroom Practice

A survey was developed to obtain information on practitioner self-reported knowledge, use, and perceived effectiveness of classroom-based practices for the inclusive instruction of students with Emotional Disturbance (ED). This study reports descriptive results for a sample of general and special education teachers from the northeast who provided inclusive instruction and/or support to at least one student with ED in a general education classroom in the past year. Mann–Whitney and MANOVA tests were employed to determine differences between teacher populations for individual practices and four clusters of practices identified in an exploratory factor analysis (EFA; Behavioral Supports, Differentiation, Classroom Management, Instructional Practices). Findings suggest that special educators serve an important role in efforts to provide instruction that focuses on inclusion rather than merely integration. Implications for practice, study limitations, and areas for future research are discussed.

THE CONCEPT OF PREPARING A FUTURE FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER TO TEACH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: STATE OF RESEARCH

According to Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Decree of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine «On ratification of organization procedure of inclusive instruction in secondary educational institutions» and the Law of Ukraine «On education», children with special educational needs have a right for decent education on equal terms with others. The main prerequisite to fulfill this requirement is the appropriate training of would-be mainstream school teachers and, in particular, foreign language ones. The article is aimed at finding out what training is currently performed and at conducting the analysis of its conceptual. As the research conducted revealed, since 2013, 14 Ukrainian universities have been providing their students with a module «Catering for special educational needs» as a part of a cross-curricular course the Methods of teaching foreign languages. According to the course curriculum, the module is supposed to include 18 hours and to be delivered on the basis of a content-outline recommended. But academics are supposed to choose sources and documents independently. The search for any conceptual bases of preparing would-be English teachers for working with learners with disability showed no results. Thus, the analysis of researches dedicated to the correspondent training of would-be teachers of other specialties was done. It revealed a number of conceptual ideas applicable in English teacher training. It allows us to offer a conceptual idea of preparing would-be English teachers for teaching learners with disability. The structural components of such training are: motivational (students should acquire humanistic values), content (they must learn information related to the education and assessment of children with disabilities), organizational (they have to master the skills and initial experience of teaching and correctional work) and of control and assessment (students should be able to assess the learning outcomes of students with disabilities in inclusive environment).