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An
assignment on Inclusive Education
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Rajib
Deb
Q. Define Inclusive
Education. What are the conducive learning environments for inclusive setup in
schools?
Answer:
Inclusive
education means that all students attend and are welcomed by their
neighbourhood schools in age-appropriate, regular classes and are supported to
learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of the life of the school. It
is an approach to educating students with special educational needs.
Inclusive education is about how we
develop and design our schools, classrooms, programs and activities so that all
students learn and participate together.
All
children benefit from inclusive education. It allows them to:
·
Develop individual strengths, with high and
appropriate expectations for each child.
·
Work on individual goals while participating
in the life of the classroom with other students.
·
Involve their parents in their education and
in the activities of their local schools.etc
Creating a conducive
learning environment:
Learning
takes place within a web of social relationships as teachers and pupils
interact both formally and informally. Schools are institutional spaces for
communities of learners, including both students and teachers. Education to be
effective in schools, the environment needs to be conducive to learning,
allowing the pupils space and time to interact within the learning and teaching
process. organization,
Despite the fact that socio-economic conditions,
gender and culture, influence students’ learning for good or bad, teachers can
play a vital role in creating a positive classroom environment and
enhancing the performance of students.
Physical and socio-cultural
environments affect students’ learning for better or worse. It is in the hands
of an effective teacher to turn environmental disadvantages into advantages.
Teachers can make a substantial difference in creating a conducive learning
environment in the class room for all children.
Conducive learning environment
includes the following:
i) Accessibility
to resources:
Given that there are only limited resource materials needed for
instruction in a classroom, teachers must ensure that chalks, charts, models,
equipment for demonstration etc are made available to students in every
session. All along, ensuring the accessibility of resource materials teachers
must also ensure that teaching-learning activities conducted in the classroom
is visible and audible to all. The spatial arrangement of the classroom must be
taken care of in order to achieve the goals of accessibility, audibility and visibility.
ii) Inclusive setting:
Disability is never a deficiency, it becomes so
when society fails to create a favourable environment for them to learn and
progress. Teachers must never put up an attitude of deficiency before the students,
particularly to the disabled. They must rather create an inclusive environment
in the classroom in which all students feel at home, gather in self-confidence
and be able to develop on their innate talents. Teachers must nurture the
students’ talents to bloom rather than diminish their enthusiasm in the initial
stages.
iii) Instructional
techniques:
Teachers
should use adequate instructional techniques in line with the socio-cultural
characteristics of learners, which in turn will influence their learning.
Instructional strategies that favour the learning needs of children should be
acquired and implemented as part of the curriculum to boost their academic
performance. Different instructional methods like cooperative learning,
peer tutoring, mastery learning etc. can be included as per the learning
requirements of students. Depending on the need and temperament of each
student, teachers must be flexible with their instructional tactics so as to
set all the students equally on the path of learning.
iv) Acceptance and
tolerance:
Creating a positive atmosphere of learning in
schools and classrooms will also depend a lot on the ability of teachers to
establish a culture of mutual respect and understanding among the students. It
is important that the students are trained in the academy of acceptance and
tolerance for one another. They are to be taught not to laugh at or make fun of
those making mistakes. Class schedules and activities are to be planned in such
a way as to promote mutual respect and appreciation among the students. Mutual
appreciation and tolerance go a long way in defining a healthy and constructive
classroom environment.
v) Social relationships:
Another
feature of a conducive classroom environment is proactive and encouraging
social relationship. Student should be able to work with others in group to
complete tasks, engage with others in project works and get along with everyone
else in an easy manner enhancing and nourishing the learning experience of
every other student.
vi) Allow for Enough Space:
Space is very important if the teacher wants the young children to be
comfortable in the classroom. It is important that there is a space wide enough
for mobility among the children especially because young children need a wide space
for playing. The classroom must be free from clutter to avoid accidents. A room
that is cluttered will make the children uneasy and suffocated. Not only that,
a cluttered room could cause accident. A good classroom for young children is a
room free from any objects that may cause them danger.
vii) Make the Classroom a
Home for the Kids:
The school is the second home of the children and the teacher their
second mother. As a second mother, the teacher must treat the children like her
children. This includes the teacher's initiative to make the children feel at
home in her classroom. If the teacher is able to provide a second home to the
kids then the children will have a better learning progress. The teacher's
approach in dealing with the kids will further enhance effective learning so it
is very important for the teacher to properly deal with the kids.
viii) Set
a friendly environment:
No matter what level we are teaching, whether we are teaching young kids or we
are teaching students who are in their teens, it is important that you create a
friendly atmosphere. In order to create a friendly atmosphere, it must
start from you as a teacher. Greeting and smiling to the students is the
best way to create a friendly atmosphere. If we set a good example to the
students; they will imitate us and the classroom will be a friendly environment
for students. Have time to talk to the students and build a bond that
will help us carry on an effective learning process.
So in conclusion
we can say that despite the fact that socio-economic
conditions, gender and culture, influence students’ learning for good or bad,
teachers can play a vital role in creating a positive classroom environment
and enhancing the performance of students.
References:
Websites/links:
