EDu Tutorial: An assignment on Inclusive Education

An assignment on Inclusive Education

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.