Session 1. The Principles of Inclusive Learning and the Concept of Special Educational Needs

1. AS A CLASS. Watch the following video Inclusion Starts With I, look at the picture and say:

• What is inclusion and what is its opposite?
• What is inclusion in education?

2. IN PAIRS. Have a look at the following pictures and decide:

• What is the difference between inclusion and integration, exclusion and segregation?
• What can be viewed as a preparatory stage of the other: integration or inclusion?

^{(From: Villegas, T. Inclusion, Exclusion, Segregation, and Integration: How are they different?)}

3. IN GROUPS OF 3. Read the following definitions and say what is being defined. Fill in the blanks:

___  occurs when students are directly or indirectly prevented from or denied access to education in any form.  

___ occurs when the education of students with disabilities is provided in separate environments designed or used to respond to a particular or various impairments, in isolation from students without disabilities. 

___ is a process of placing persons with disabilities in existing mainstream educational institutions, as long as a student can adjust to the standardized requirements of such institutions. It does not guarantee the transition from segregation to inclusion. 

___ involves a process of systemic reform embodying adjustments and modifications in content, teaching methods, approaches, structures and strategies in education to overcome barriers with a vision serving to provide all students of the relevant age range with an fair and participatory learning experience and environment that best corresponds to their requirements and preferences.

^{(From: Dr. Thomas Hehir Dr. Todd Grindal Brian Freeman Renée Lamoreau Yolanda Borquaye Samantha Burke. A Summary of the Evidence of Inclusive Education)}

• What can we observe in Ukrainian education? What are your arguments?

 4. IN PAIRS. Read the following definitions and answer the questions below:

In the Law of Ukraine "On Education" inclusive education is defined as a system of educational services guaranted by the state, that are based on the principles of non-descrimination, taking into the account the diversity, effective involvement and inclusion of all the participants of the educational process (paragraph 12 part 1 article).

^{(From: Закон України "Про освіту")}

Inclusion is about how we structure our schools, our classrooms and our lessons so that all our students learn and participate together. An inclusive classroom is one that creates a supportive environment for all learners, including those with learning differences, and can also challenge and engage gifted and talented learners by building a more responsive learning environment.

^{(From: What is inclusion and how do we implement it?)}

QUESTIONS:

• In what way can children without disability benefit from inclusion? 
• Are there any disadvantages of inclusive education?

5. INDIVIDUALLY. Play the following game to acquaint yourselves with some other terms: 

https://wordwall.net/resource/77041472/equality-diversity-and-inclusion

6. AS A CLASS. Look at the following picture. What is its main idea? What do the buckets symbolise?

7. IN PAIRS. Read the following information and mark the statements below as true or false:

There are 4 principles of inclusion that can raise independence and improve the performance of learners with special educational needs: 

1. adjustment
2. modification
3. individualisation 
4. differentiation

a) ADJUSTMENT (or reasonable accommodation) is used to make the means, content or methods and also the learning environment more accessible or convenient for a learner, e.g.:

• Extended time
• Frequent breaks
• Preferential seating
• The physical arrangement of the room (extra space for a wheelchair)
• Computer instead of a textbook
• Large print
• Read aloud-computer 
• Special considerations for examinations and assessments such as extra time, breaks, quiet room, use of technology for written tasks

Adjustent has nothing to do with changes in the level of material's complexity or amount.

^{(From: Curriculum Modification and Adjustment)}

What pictures demonstrate adjustment in learning English?

b) MODIFICATION is used when the content of learning is too difficult or too easy for a learner because of some intellectual disorders or giftedness, he or she cannot keep up with the pace of the lesson or has a lot of free time at the lesson. Reasons in this case can be cognitive, physical, sensory etc.  A teacher cannot choose to use modification which is not included into the Individual Development Program.

Do the following quiz to check understanding: 

https://wordwall.net/resource/58531443/accommodation-vs-modification

c) INDIVIDUALISATION means that a learner is provided with support in the educational process due to his or her individual peculiarities. In Ukraine students with special educational needs can get support at 5 levels depending on their state of health:

Level 1. Parents write a letter to school administration requesting to support a learner by means of innitial consultations with a speech therapist, psychologist etc. but no inclusive class can be organised. The learner can be provided with adjusted learning materials if there is a need.

Level 2. Starting with this level the school provides an Individual Development Programme, a teacher's assistant, adjustment of the curricula, 1-2consultations or developmental classes a week, an inclusive class with not more than 2 other learners with SEN.

Level 3. The school provides an Individual Development Programme, a teacher's assistant, there is a learner's assistant (this can be a parent), adjustment of curricula, lesson schedule, of communication channels (using sign language, Braille etc.), up to 4 consultations or developmental classes a week, an inclusive class with not more than 1 other learner with SEN.

Level 4. These learners are provided with an Individual Development Programme, a teacher's assistant, a learner's assistant, adjustment and modification of the content of learning, an adjusted or modified schedule, adjusted methods and techniques (the usage of special technologies and techniques of learning), up to 6 consultations or developmental classes a week, an inclusive class with no other learners with SEN.

Level 5. These learners are provided with an Individual Development Programme, a teacher's assistant, a learner's assistant, the adjustment and modification of the content of learning, a modified schedule and results of learning, the usage of alternative methods of learning,up to 8 consultations or developmental classes a week, an inclusive class with no other learners with SEN.

^{(From: Новий Порядок організації інклюзивного навчання: коротко про головне. For more information see: Рівні надання підтримки)}

d) DIFFERENTIATION is a philosophy that involves providing students with a range of different possibilities for understanding new information (often in the same classroom). 

^{(From: Tomlinson, C. E. How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms)}

Differentiation is when the teacher provides work for groups of students at their developmental level. This could be reading groups, spelling groups where the teacher suggests different texts for the students depending on their readiness. To give students choice and voice a teacher can use learner autonomy when learners choose assignments and modes of interaction throughout a lesson. But every choice should be acceptable for the teacher.

(For more information see: Learner Autonomy Across the Border: from theory to practice.m4v)

Differentiation can be made by: product, process, content and environment.

Do the following activity and explain their difference: https://wordwall.net/resource/74229356/differentiation-elements-matching-game

8. Play the following game to consolidate your knowledge: https://wordwall.net/resource/15853213/differentiation-of-instruction

9. Decide: TRUE OR FALSE?

• Adjustment and modification both mean a change in the level of complexity of learning materials for a specific learner.
• Adjustment is a synonym of reasonable accommodation.
• Adjustment can be used to make school environment, methods, content and means of learning more accessible for SEN learners.
• Modification can only be used to deal with the curriculum (content) of learning.
• Individualisation is provided for individual learners.
• Differentiation is based on grouping.
• Differentiation is the same as modification.
• Individualisation is based on modification.