MEDU211 - IFE

MEDU211
Inclusive Practices: Addressing the Diverse Classroom

MQF Level: 7

ECTS Value: 3 ECTS

Self Study Hours: 36

Contact Hours: 15

Assessment Hours: 24

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

In the modern heterogeneous society diversity is inevitable. Educators need not only accept diversity but moreover celebrate it. Through classroom practices educators should promote positive inclusive practices and delve into ways of enhancing a collaborative, serene and welcoming environment.

This module will cover the following aspects:

Theories of Inclusive Education
Inclusion as a process
Malta’s National Policy Framework on Inclusion
Disability and Social constructionism
Theories of disability
Practical strategies to include all students in the classroom.
Critical discourse analysis as a tool for researching on inclusion.
Collaborative practices in inclusive education.

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:

Competences

a. Critically delve into what constitutes inclusion;

b. Give practical ways to cater for diversity in the classroom;

c. Determine what diversity in the classroom entails;

e. Critically analyse the local Maltese policy framework on inclusion;

f. Challenge pre-existing discourses in relation to diversity in the classroom;

g. Use different tools and devise activities to promote diversity and inclusion in the classroom.

Knowledge

a. Describe theoretical framework of inclusive education;

b. Explain theories on inclusion;

c. Discuss inclusion as a process;

d. Discuss Malta’s National Policy Framework;

e. Describe any problematic situations in Malta;

f. Be familiar with different theories of inclusion;

g. Evaluate the support educational support services available for students with diverse needs.

Skills

a. Take a multi-disciplinary, theoretical and practical approach towards knowledge in relation to inclusion;

b. Analyse theories of inclusion through a social constructionist approach;

c. Challenge pre-existing discourses related to inclusion;

d. Develop one’s own discourse on inclusion.

Assessment Methods

This module will be assessed through: Assignment, Critical Analysis.

Suggested Readings

Core Reading List

Barton, L. (2004). Social inclusion and education: issues and questions. Paper presented at the ESRC seminar Towards Inclusion: Social Inclusion and Education. Institute of Education: London.
Timmons, V. and Noonan-walsh, P. (2011). A long walk to school; global perspectives on inclusive education. Brill Academic Pub.
Hansen, J. H., Carrington, S., Jensen, C. R., Molbæk, M., & Secher Schmidt, M. C. (2020). The collaborative practice of inclusion and exclusion.Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy, 6(1), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2020.1730112
Ruppar, A. L., Bal, A., Gonzalez, T., Love, L., & McCabe, K. (2018). Collaborative research: A new paradigm for systemic change in inclusive education for students with disabilities.International Journal of Special Education, 33(3), 778.
Boyle, C., Topping, K., & Jindal-Snape, D. (2013). Teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion in high schools. Teachers and Teaching, 19(5), 527-542, doi: 10.1080/13540602.2013.827361
Fairclough, N. (2013). Critical discourse analysis: the critical study of language. (3 rd. ed.). New York: U.S.A.: Routledge.
Garner, P., & Forbes, F. (2015). An ‘at-risk’ curriculum for ‘at-risk’ students? Special educational needs and disability in the new Australian Curriculum. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 15(4), 225-234. doi:10.1111/1471-3802.12022
Ministry for Education and Employment (2014). Education for all: Inclusive and special education review. Malta: Ministry for Education & Employment.
Ministry for Education and Employment (2012). Towards an education for all: A national curriculum framework 2021. Malta: Ministry for Education and Employment.
Ministry for Education and Employment (2000). Inclusive education policy. Malta: Ministry for Education and Employment
UNESCO (2009). Policy guidelines on inclusion education. Paris, France: UNESCO.
UNESCO (2005). Education for all. Paris, France: UNESCO.
UNESCO (2001). Inclusive education. Paris, France: UNESCO.

Supplementary Reading List

Camargo, S.P.H., Rispoli, M., Ganz, J., Hong, R.E., Davis, H., & Mason, R.(2016). Behaviorally based interventions for teaching social interaction skills to children with ASD in inclusive settings: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioural Education, 25(2), 223-248. doi: doi:10.1007/s10864-015-9240-1
Caulder, L., Hill, V., & Pellicano, E. (2012). ‘Sometimes I want to play by myself’: understanding what friendship means to children with autism in mainstream primary schools. Autism, 17(3), 296–316. doi: 10.1177/1362361312467866 aut.sagepub.com
Hebron, J., & Humphrey, N. (2014). Exposure to bullying among students with autism spectrum conditions: a multi-informant analysis of risk and protective factors. Autism, 8(6), 618-30. doi: 10.1177/1362361313495965
Steinbrenner, J.R.D., & Watson, L.R. (2015). Student engagement in the classroom: the impact of classroom, teacher, and student factors. Journal of Autism and Development Disorders, 45(1), 2392–2410. doi10.1007/s10803-015-2406-9
Wodak, R. & Meyer, M. (2012). Methods of critical discourse analysis. London,England: Sage Publication.