This study focused on the use of Assistive Technology (AT) in enhancing the educational support of all learners in a mainstream school. The theoretical frameworks used in this study were Wellness Theory and Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). The main aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Assistive Technology in promoting the educational support of all learners in a mainstream school. This use of AT thus benefiting inclusion and inclusive practices and enhancing learning and support for all students in a mainstream school. The study was embedded in an interpretivist paradigm and used a qualitative research approach. Sampling was purposive and participants were selected based on the researcher’s pre-defined purpose for the study. Ethical approval was sought from the University of South Africa and prior to conducting research consent forms were signed by all participants. Data were collected using questionnaires with open-ended questions, face to face interviews and document analysis. Data analysis was done through thematic coding (noting recurring patterns of information) and the development of major themes based on qualitative data collected. Findings revealed the need for more technology in the research site (such as iPads and laptops), as well as the need for staff training in order to effectively use the technology. Furthermore, having more educational assistants to support students with more complex needs was also highlighted. Findings from face-to-face interviews indicated themes articulating with the above mentioned. This included the need for time to plan for the use of Assistive Technology in the classroom, along with time to familiarize oneself with the various forms of technology available. Training to effectively implement and support the technology was highlighted, as was time to engage with other colleagues and develop a collegial enquiry for the effective use of Assistive Technology to support all learners in the mainstream class. Findings from documents reviewed showed significant focus on the need for diagnosis to be able to select intervention strategies for the classroom and instruction. When staff were aware of a child’s medical, cognitive or mental health diagnosis, appropriate supports could be explored. The school support documents reviewed indicated a clear requirement for updated testing and setting of goals for students, to be supported by the strategies. Recommendations made for the effective use of AT included the promotion of professional development in staff and the establishment of professional learning communities which value the sharing and exchange of information regarding knowledge and skills. Furthermore, a framework is proposed which may be used by schools using assistive technology in supporting learners in mainstream schools so that learning may be enhanced. A further longitudinal study was recommended for the future to determine the impact of the use of AT to support inclusion when relevant staff training is available, applicable and ongoing. / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

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Bakgrunden till detta självständiga arbete ligger i mina erfarenheter av instrumentalundervisning i den svenska kulturskolan tillsammans med mitt intresse för interaktion mellan lärare och elev i likväl en-till-en-undervisning som gruppundervisning. Kulturskolan har gått igenom många förändringar genom historien. Ett tämligen färskt exempel på detta är en statlig utredning (SOU,2016:69) där gruppundervisning rekommenderas som norm för all musikundervisning i kulturskolan till skillnad från den mer traditionellt använda en-till-en-undervisningen.Studien syftar till att belysa hur instrumentalundervisning i kulturskolan kan ta sig uttryck och hur det kan förstås ha för betydelse för den enskilde elevens lärande. Genom ett kvalitativt metodval i observation och stimulerad intervju, framgår hur interaktionsmönster och iscensättning av instrumentalundervisning kan förstås påverka elevers lärande. Även uppfattningar om grupp- och enskild undervisning och iscensättandet av dessa undervisningsformer lyfts fram. Med socialsemiotiska begrepp och modeller som analysverktyg framgår av studiens resultat hur läraren i detta fall är den som styr lektionerna till i hög grad och elevernas påverkan och utrymme för eget initiativ är liten. Lektionerna var fokuserade kring att lära sig stycken på fiol enligt lärarens instruktioner och riktande av uppmärksamhetsfokus, med noter som huvudsakliga utgångspunkt. Lärarens verbala kommunikation var den betydande delenav all kommunikation som skedde under lektionerna och elevernas interaktion med varandra var nedtonad. Av lärarens beskrivningar framgår uppfattningar om att utveckling av elevernas analytiska förmåga när det kommer till inlärning via notläsning och speltekniska färdigheter är av stor vikt. Av resultatet framgår även uppfattningar om att kravet på gruppundervisning kan vara hämmande både för lärare och elever och en önskan om en kombination av enskild- och gruppundervisning framgår. Resultaten av föreliggande arbete liknar generellt andra studiers resultat om enskild- och gruppundervisning i kulturskolan och uppfattningar om hur kulturskolans mål påverkar praktiken. I vidare forskning föreslås att större vikt läggs vid elevernas perspektiv på detta ämne för att få en bättre förståelse och uppfattning om deras upplevelser och tankar. / The background to this thesis lies in my experiences of instrumental teaching in the Swedish voluntary cultural school (Kulturskolan) along with my interest in teacher-student interaction in both one-to-one-teaching and group teaching. The cultural school has been through a lot of changes historically. A recent example of this is a governmental investigation (SOU, 2016:69) recommending group teaching as a norm as opposed to the traditional one-to-one-teaching.The study aims to shed light on how instrumental teaching in the cultural school can take formand how it can be understood to have significance for the individual student's learning. Through qualitative methods as observation and stimulated recall interview, it is made clear in the results how patterns of interaction and design of the lessons can be understood to affect students' learning. Perceptions and comparisons of group teaching and one-to-one-teaching are also highlighted. With social semiotic concepts and models as analysis tools, it is clear from the results of the study how the teacher in this case is the one who primarily controls the lessons and the students' influence and the scope for their own initiative is minimal. The lessons were focused around learning pieces on the violin according to the teacher's instructions and directions of the students focus of attention, with sheet music as the main point of focus. Regarding interaction the results showed how the teacher’s verbal communication appeared to dominate communicationduring the lessons and the students' interaction with each other was downplayed. The teacher's descriptions show perceptions that developing the students' analytical ability when it comes to learning via music reading and playing technique skills are of great importance. The results also show the teacher’s opinions of how the requirement for group teaching can be inhibiting for both teachers and students and a desire for a combination of individual and group teaching is evident. The results of the present work are similar to general results of other studies on individual and group teaching in the culture school, and opinions and experiences of how the goals of the culture school affect teaching in a real-world scenario. In further research, it is suggested and emphasized that students' perspectives on this subject are considered in order to gain a better understanding and perception of their experiences and thoughts.

Au cours des dernières décennies, le Québec a connu une augmentation significative du nombre d’élèves ayant des défis particuliers dans les classes ordinaires du primaire. Cette diversification des profils d’apprentissage a complexifié l’enseignement, qui vise la réussite de tous les élèves indépendamment de leurs besoins spécifiques. Les pratiques pédagogiques et les ressources matérielles jouent un rôle crucial pour favoriser l’accès, la participation et la progression pour tous les élèves. Toutefois, les enseignants ne semblent pas suffisamment préparés, tant dans leur formation initiale que continue, pour mettre en place des pratiques dites accessibles dans la classe. Cette étude vise à mieux comprendre comment la formation courte s’appuyant sur le processus de planification universelle (PPU) peut soutenir les enseignants du primaire afin de planifier et mettre en œuvre la conception universelle de l’apprentissage (CUA) et les aides technologiques (AT) dans la classe. Plus spécifiquement, cette étude vise à concevoir un dispositif de formation à proposer aux enseignants, à documenter la réalisation des étapes du PPU par les enseignants et à décrire les apports et les limites du dispositif de formation quant au soutien apporté par ce dernier aux enseignants du primaire au Québec. À partir de la littérature recensée, un dispositif de formation a été élaboré et proposé à cinq enseignants du primaire. Les enseignants ont suivi une formation en ligne d’environ une heure de façon individuelle avant de participer à une rencontre de travail collectif. Les résultats de cette recherche, s’appuyant sur une méthodologie qualitative, montrent que le dispositif de formation courte offre un soutien prometteur aux enseignants. Celui-ci a contribué à changer les perceptions des enseignants en ce qui concerne les difficultés à apprendre orientant le regard vers l’identification des obstacles plutôt que des déficiences. De plus, le PPU a été utile pour soutenir la planification et la mise en œuvre de la CUA et des AT par les enseignants. Enfin, la collaboration, l’accompagnement et la conception des ressources de formation selon les principes de la CUA ont joué un rôle pour soutenir la compréhension et le développement d’habiletés au cours de cette formation. / Over the last few decades, Quebec has seen a significant increase in the number of students with special challenges in regular primary school classes. This diversification of learning profiles has complicated teaching, which aims at the success of all students regardless of their specific needs. Educational practices and material resources play a crucial role in promoting access, participation and progress for all students. However, teachers do not appear to be sufficiently prepared, both in their initial and continuing training, to implement so-called accessible practices in the classroom. This study aims to better understand how short training based on the Planning for all learners (PAL) can support primary school teachers in planning and implementing the Universal design of learning (UDL) and assistive technology (AT) in the classroom. More specifically, this study aims to design a training to be proposed to teachers, to document the achievement of the PAL stages by teachers and to describe the contributions and limits of the training system in terms of the support provided by the latter to primary school teachers in Quebec. Based on the literature collected, a training scheme was developed and proposed to five primary school teachers. Teachers took about an hour of online training individually before participating in a collective work meeting. The results of this research, based on a qualitative methodology, show that the short-term training system offers promising support to teachers. This has helped change teachers’ perceptions of learning difficulties by looking to identify obstacles rather than disabilities. Most of all, the PPU has been useful in supporting the planning and implementation of UDL and ATs by teachers. Finally, the collaboration, support and design of training resources in accordance with the UDL principles played a role in supporting understanding and skills development during this training.