This research investigates the practices of teachers in Nigerian classrooms where children with disabilities are being educated alongside their peers. The research objective was to develop an understanding of how teachers in Nigerian classrooms are developing their practice. Since the commitment the Nigerian government to the provision of universal basic and inclusive education for all children, research and reports on what the implementation of inclusive practice entails have been carried out. These have been largely quantitative, focusing on the percentage of children with disabilities who now have access to basic education and the percentage of these children in regular schools or classrooms. The research in Nigeria has used surveys to determine the attitudes and readiness of teachers and school administrators to implement inclusive practice. The problems of implementing inclusive practice have also received attention. It is against this background that this qualitative inquiry seeks to understand what is happening in classrooms with regard to the teaching and learning of all children. To address the main research question, how are teachers with experience of inclusive education developing practice in Nigerian classrooms? qualitative data was generated over eight weeks through the use of semi-structured (non-participant) classroom observations, which were followed-up by semi-structured interviews with 12 teachers from three different schools. To further enhance the understanding of the teachers’ developing practices, the schools’ administrators (either the principal or vice principal) and the resource persons were also interviewed. The overall design of the study was an instrumental-collective case study in which teachers were purposively sampled on the basis of their experience of inclusive education. This design was based on the understanding that inclusive practice is developed through an interaction of what teachers do, what they believe and what they know. Thus, a single factor of readiness and a positive attitude does not fully account for the development of practice (Rouse, 2008). The framework for participation, developed by Black-Hawkins (2010; 2014), guided the process of data generation and the analysis. This research is based on an understanding of inclusive practice as a process of addressing and responding to diverse learning needs that emphasizes how this response is provided. This understanding provided the premise within which the data was deductively (i.e. theoretically driven) analysed. An inductive approach to the analysis was also added to the deductive process of analysing the data generated in order to develop an understanding of the case teachers’ classroom practices. Three main findings emerged from this study. Firstly, teachers’ actions are influenced by their understanding of what teaching and learning are, as well as their knowledge and beliefs about the process through which children with disabilities are expected to learn. Case teachers’ knowledge was found to have significantly influenced their practices. Secondly, there was an absence of collaborative efforts between teachers and/or between teachers and resource persons available within the school context. This absence of collaboration is often associated with a lack of understanding or clarity with regard to the role of resource persons. Thirdly, this study identified barriers and opportunities that were embedded in teachers’ developing practice. The barriers include an absence of a sense of shared values in the classroom between all members of the classroom community, while the opportunities include the use of information from students with disabilities as a source of support to enhance classroom practice. This research contributes to the literature on inclusive classroom practice, especially the strand of literature that in recent years has called for investigations into what inclusive classroom practice comprises and when such practice can be identified on the basis of clearly stated underpinning principles (Florian, 2014b). In using clearly identified principles, it was possible to identify that both inclusive and exclusive practices can be present in the same classroom context and why this is so. Through the use of the framework for participation and theoretical ideas developed and used in researching inclusive education in a different context, this thesis has demonstrated the extent to which these ideas can be applicable in other contexts. In so doing some findings have been reasserted and new insight situated in a particular context has been developed. It is therefore argued that understanding the processes of developing inclusive practice requires a need to situate practice in the broader cultural assumptions, expectations and values of teaching and learning. The findings are discussed and recommendations such as the need for a more deliberate and collaborative efforts in working with resource persons to enhance classroom teachers’ ability to address learning difficulties while developing their inclusive classroom practice are made. The conclusion drawn is that teachers with experience of inclusive education in Nigeria are developing practice that meets some of the theoretical standards of inclusive classroom practice. Regardless of this, there are certain cultural assumptions, understandings and ideas that need to be reflected on and reviewed in order for practice to be further developed and improved upon in Nigeria.

The current study is focussed on teachers' beliefs in inclusion and dyslexia and how these are linked to their professional practice when working with dyslexic learners in their primary classrooms in two cultural contexts; in Cyprus and in North West England. The study is guided by the theoretical framework of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) which was used as the descriptive and analytical tool to explore teachers' personal interpretations and inclusive practice. A qualitative research design is used and includes semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and follow-up discussions with ten teachers in total, five Greek-Cypriot and five British teachers. The findings indicate that the teachers presented both similarities and differences on the way the concepts of inclusion and dyslexia are perceived and understood. For example, teachers interpret 'inclusion' as a shared objective to work collectively towards, making reference to shared values such as 'human rights' and 'equal participation'. One difference identified in some of the Cypriot teachers was that that they appeared more critical about teaching disabled students (e.g. students with more complex needs) in relation to their counterparts. In terms of dyslexia, most of the Cypriot and British teachers conceptualised it as a disorder with a biological basis but, at the same time, they refer to the mediating role played by the environment in contributing further to students' difficulties with literacy. Teachers who engage in practices in their classrooms in order to be more inclusive were identified as those who propose innovation in their activities. On the other hand, there are teachers who seem less inclusive, by creating learning opportunities which are not sufficiently made available for everyone and can allow dyslexic students to access the curriculum. The study enriches the international literature on teachers' beliefs and how they are can influence teachers' professional practice. Cultural Historical Activity Theory, contributed into understanding the factors that can influence teachers' practice for inclusion and their between interactive relationship in an activity system. This is an important area of investigation since changing teachers' beliefs about students' ability can reflect changes in their professional practice.

Within ecotourism there is a built in assumption that tourists are the only ones who gain knowledge from an interpretive service. I sought to fill in that gap by looking at the ways the experiences of providing nature interpretation influenced interpreters’ professional practice. To accomplish this, semi-structured interviews involving 5 Ontario-based nature interpreters were conducted. Their narratives were analysed and coded using the method known as template analysis, the results of which were then used to make a comparative analysis. The results of this study indicate that there are two avenues through which nature interpreters learned from their experiences: through reflection initiated by emotions and through a realisation made from the experience. For the four participants who reported a change to their professional practice, that change came in the form of more inclusive practices being incorporated. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2014-06-20 15:06:09.83

The purpose of this dissertation is to enact and poetically story the nonlinear emergence of an a/r/tographic practice called gathering—a situated art practice of storying, doing, and making as researching and thinking—in multiple contexts, including early childhood teacher education and imperial and settler colonialism in Canada. Over two years, I sustained a ritual of gathering where I (re)read texts (e.g., Indigenous theories, Chicana feminisms, antiracist theories, postcolonial theories, and subaltern theories) and (re)walked the neighbourhood of my apartment on the stolen territories of the Lkwungen people, who are one of the Coast Salish peoples, on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. While I walked and as I read, I attended to how other artists, animals, and I gathered objects and ideas, the effects of the environment and weather, and the theoretical orientations and contexts of the ideas and objects. The poetic stories in this dissertation entangle bits of the ideas and objects I gathered during my walks and readings. I also story how my personal artistic process of gathering unfolded into teaching an inclusive practice course in the Early Childhood Care and Education Department at Capilano University. I and my class of preservice early childhood educators gathered on and around the Capilano campus, located on the traditional territories of Coast Salish peoples, including the Tsleil-Watuth, Skwxwú7mesh, shíshálh, Lil’Wat, and Musqueam Nations. With this a/r/tographic research, I offer a pedagogical and aesthetic way with which to attune to the process, conditions, and situations of engaging multiple theories. I inquire into different ways of relating with and taking responsibility for others and into what kinds of partial, incomplete, and imperfect regenerations, possibilities, and futures present themselves through gathering within a context of imperial and settler colonialism in Canada. / Graduate

Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας ήταν να μελετηθεί η ετοιμότητα μελλοντικών δασκάλων να ανταποκριθούν κατάλληλα και αποτελεσματικά στις απαιτήσεις μιας συμμετοχικής τάξης όπου μαθητές με ειδικές ανάγκες εκπαιδεύονται παράλληλα με μαθητές χωρίς ειδικές ανάγκες στο πλαίσιο της συμμετοχικής εκπαίδευσης. Τα ερωτήματα που τέθηκαν ήταν: (α) πώς διαμορφώνονται οι στάσεις, τα συναισθήματα και οι ανησυχίες των μελλοντικών δασκάλων για τη συμμετοχική εκπαίδευση των παιδιών με ειδικές ανάγκες; (β) πώς αποτιμούν οι μελλοντικοί δάσκαλοι το βαθμό της αποτελεσματικότητάς τους στη συμμετοχική πρακτική; Το δείγμα της μελέτης μας αποτέλεσαν 148 μελλοντικοί δάσκαλοι από δύο προγράμματα προετοιμασίας δασκάλων σε δύο χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης: του Παιδαγωγικού Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών της Ελλάδας και του Τμήματος Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης του Πανεπιστημίου Palacký της Τσεχίας. Η αποτίμηση της ετοιμότητας των μελλοντικών εκπαιδευτικών μετρήθηκε με τις κλίμακες SACIE-R και ΤΕΙΡ των Forlin, Earle, Loreman & Sharma (2011, 2012) οι οποίες μεταφράστηκαν και χρησιμοποιήθηκαν κατάλληλα για τις ανάγκες της διερεύνησής μας. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι υπάρχουν σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των δύο χωρών. Δευτερευόντως, δείχθηκε πως διαφορετικά δημογραφικά χαρακτηριστικά των συμμετεχόντων του δείγματος (όπως: (α) η επαφή με άτομα με ειδικές ανάγκες, (β) η σχετική κατάρτιση στην ειδική αγωγή, (γ) η πρακτική διδασκαλία παιδιών με ΕΑ στη διάρκεια των σπουδών και (δ) ο χρόνος και η διάρκεια της φοίτησης στο πρόγραμμα) επηρεάζουν τις επιδόσεις των εκπαιδευτικών τόσο στη διαμόρφωση των στάσεων, των συναισθημάτων και των ανησυχιών τους για τη συμμετοχική εκπαίδευση όσο και στην αποτίμηση της αποτελεσματικότητας τους για συμμετοχική πρακτική. Τα αποτελέσματα της συγκεκριμένης έρευνας μπορεί να αποτελέσουν σημαντική ευκαιρία για ευρύτερη περαιτέρω επισκόπηση και αξιολόγηση των προγραμμάτων προετοιμασίας δασκάλων για τη συμμετοχική εκπαίδευση στις δύο χώρες. / The purpose of the preset study was the examination of the preparedness of future teachers to work in an appropriate way and effectively in an inclusive classroom where students with special needs are educated with students without special needs in the context of inclusion. Our questions were: (a) what are the attitudes, the sentiments and concerns of future teachers about inclusive education of students with special needs? (b) In which degree do future teachers consider they are prepared and effective at the implementation of inclusive practices? Our participants in the study were 148 future teachers from two departments of education in two countries of European Union: the Department of Primary Education at University of Patras (Greece) and the Department of Primary Education at Palacký University of Olomouc (Czech Republic). We used scales SACIE-R and TEIP (that were developed by Forlin, Earle, Loreman & Sharma, (2011, 2012)) to measure the readiness of future teachers. We translated and modified the scales for the necessities of our study. Results indicated that there are important differences between two countries. Secondly, it was approved that different demographic variables (like: (a) interactions with people with special needs, (b) training and knowledge in special education, (c) practice of teaching students with special needs during the program and (d) study period) impact on the performance of our future teachers in the variables of SACIE-R and TEIP scales. Implications of the study may be a good chance of further review and evaluation of programs that prepare teachers for inclusive education in both countries.

This phenomenological study was designed and conducted in a Post 1992 ‘new university’ situated in the UK. The aims of the study were a) to investigate inclusive practice amongst disabled students in higher education, b) to explore students’ perceptions on their lived experiences of the support provided c) to explore disabled students’ experiences of the process in gaining support d) to identify the kind of practices disabled students used to support their own effective learning in HE. A sample of 14 students, aged 19 to 56 volunteered to participate in the study. The study was underpinned by inclusive theory and equality policy provided for higher education institutions. Rich data from phenomenological interviews was analysed using thematic and narrative analysis. Analysis of the data uncovered new knowledge for lecturers and support staff in understanding disabled students’ lived experiences as they approached support systems and classrooms in higher education. The key findings involved a) barriers to communication and collaboration between students and lecturers, b) attitudes of staff and the asymmetries of power experienced by students in accessing support, c) issues around student anxiety, dependence and independence and ownership of learning, d) the idea that a reasonable adjustment could be unreasonable and embarrassing and evidence of tokenism in supporting students. The recommendations included a) the need for more in-depth training for all staff in equality and inclusive practice and inclusive course design, b) more support for students in negotiating their Study Needs Assessment, c) bridging the communication gap between Student Wellbeing, lecturers and students. The changes in funding to the Disabled Students’ Allowance came into force during 2016 which has consequently reduced or removed support for students who have disclosed a disability. Due to such changes, it will be even more important for universities to support the training of students, lecturers and support staff in creating and maintaining more inclusive environments in the future.

Cette recherche, de type exploratoire et descriptif, s’intéresse à l’expérience et au point de vue des parents à l’égard de l’implication directe de leurs enfants en médiation familiale. La méthodologie privilégiée pour réaliser cette étude est qualitative, et la perspective théorique utilisée est la phénoménologie. L’échantillon est constitué de huit parents, tous ayant participé à une entrevue semi-dirigée au sujet de l’implication de leurs enfants dans le processus de médiation familiale. Les données ont été recueillies entre le mois de mai et octobre 2013, et ont été analysées en s’appuyant sur la méthode d’analyse de contenu telle que proposée par L’Écuyer (1990) ainsi que Mayer et Deslauriers (2000). Il ressort de cette recherche que l’implication directe des enfants en médiation familiale a une influence considérable sur le processus. En effet, la majorité des participants de la présente étude ont rapporté que l’implication de leurs enfants a été déterminante afin de conclure une entente au sujet du partage des responsabilités parentales. Aussi, les résultats suggèrent que la majorité des participants ont vécu de manière positive la participation de leurs enfants et sont satisfaits des retombées de l’implication. Par contre, quelques parents ont vécu de manière négative cette expérience. De tels résultats mettent en lumière les limites et risques liés à l’implication directe des enfants en médiation familiale. De plus, les modalités d’implication choisies par les médiateurs familiaux semblent avoir influencé le vécu des parents et de leurs enfants dans le processus. Les résultats donnent également accès à la perception des parents au sujet du vécu de leurs enfants avant, pendant et après le processus d’implication. Une suggestion qui émane de cette recherche est que l’enfant, bien qu’amené à prendre parole dans la médiation familiale, ne doit pas être tenu responsable d’une décision liée au partage des responsabilités parentales. Les conclusions de ce mémoire alimentent une stratégie en médiation familiale qui est peu documentée à partir de l’expérience et du point de vue des parents. / This exploratory and descriptive research focuses on the experience and perspective of parents with regard to the direct participation of children in family mediation. To carry out this study, a qualitative research method was used and the phenomenology theoretical perspective was chosen. The sample consists of eight parents, all who participated in a semi-structured interview on the involvement of their children in family mediation. Data was collected between May and October 2013, and was analyzed based on the content analysis method as proposed by L'Ecuyer (1990) and Mayer and Deslauriers (2000). It is clear from this research that the direct involvement of children in family mediation has considerable influence on the process. Indeed, the majority of participants in this study reported that their children’s involvement was crucial to reach an agreement about shared parenting. Also, the results suggest that the majority of participants had positively experience the participation of their children and were satisfied with the benefits of the involvement. However, some parents lived this experience in a negative way. Those results highlighted the limitations and hazards associated with the direct involvement of children in family mediation. The terms of involvement chosen by family mediators also appeared to have influenced the experiences of parents and their children in the process. The results of this research provide access to the perception of parents about their children’s experiences before, during and after the process. A suggestion that comes from this study is that the child, although brought to give an opinion in family mediation, should not be held responsible for any decision related to shared parenting, for example the choice of care arrangements. The conclusions of this paper feed a family mediation strategy that is poorly documented from the point of view and experience of parents.

Cette recherche, de type exploratoire et descriptif, s’intéresse à l’expérience et au point de vue des parents à l’égard de l’implication directe de leurs enfants en médiation familiale. La méthodologie privilégiée pour réaliser cette étude est qualitative, et la perspective théorique utilisée est la phénoménologie. L’échantillon est constitué de huit parents, tous ayant participé à une entrevue semi-dirigée au sujet de l’implication de leurs enfants dans le processus de médiation familiale. Les données ont été recueillies entre le mois de mai et octobre 2013, et ont été analysées en s’appuyant sur la méthode d’analyse de contenu telle que proposée par L’Écuyer (1990) ainsi que Mayer et Deslauriers (2000). Il ressort de cette recherche que l’implication directe des enfants en médiation familiale a une influence considérable sur le processus. En effet, la majorité des participants de la présente étude ont rapporté que l’implication de leurs enfants a été déterminante afin de conclure une entente au sujet du partage des responsabilités parentales. Aussi, les résultats suggèrent que la majorité des participants ont vécu de manière positive la participation de leurs enfants et sont satisfaits des retombées de l’implication. Par contre, quelques parents ont vécu de manière négative cette expérience. De tels résultats mettent en lumière les limites et risques liés à l’implication directe des enfants en médiation familiale. De plus, les modalités d’implication choisies par les médiateurs familiaux semblent avoir influencé le vécu des parents et de leurs enfants dans le processus. Les résultats donnent également accès à la perception des parents au sujet du vécu de leurs enfants avant, pendant et après le processus d’implication. Une suggestion qui émane de cette recherche est que l’enfant, bien qu’amené à prendre parole dans la médiation familiale, ne doit pas être tenu responsable d’une décision liée au partage des responsabilités parentales. Les conclusions de ce mémoire alimentent une stratégie en médiation familiale qui est peu documentée à partir de l’expérience et du point de vue des parents. / This exploratory and descriptive research focuses on the experience and perspective of parents with regard to the direct participation of children in family mediation. To carry out this study, a qualitative research method was used and the phenomenology theoretical perspective was chosen. The sample consists of eight parents, all who participated in a semi-structured interview on the involvement of their children in family mediation. Data was collected between May and October 2013, and was analyzed based on the content analysis method as proposed by L'Ecuyer (1990) and Mayer and Deslauriers (2000). It is clear from this research that the direct involvement of children in family mediation has considerable influence on the process. Indeed, the majority of participants in this study reported that their children’s involvement was crucial to reach an agreement about shared parenting. Also, the results suggest that the majority of participants had positively experience the participation of their children and were satisfied with the benefits of the involvement. However, some parents lived this experience in a negative way. Those results highlighted the limitations and hazards associated with the direct involvement of children in family mediation. The terms of involvement chosen by family mediators also appeared to have influenced the experiences of parents and their children in the process. The results of this research provide access to the perception of parents about their children’s experiences before, during and after the process. A suggestion that comes from this study is that the child, although brought to give an opinion in family mediation, should not be held responsible for any decision related to shared parenting, for example the choice of care arrangements. The conclusions of this paper feed a family mediation strategy that is poorly documented from the point of view and experience of parents.

I den här studien undersökte vi hur specialpedagoger tolkade fenomenet tillit i relation till sin yrkesutövning. Vi ville också ta reda på vilka möjligheter och organisatoriska förutsättningar för att skapa tillit de beskrev sig ha på sina arbetsplatser. Motivet till undersökningen utgick från två huvudlinjer, varav den ena var att fenomenet tillit och dess plats i skolans kultur upplevdes begränsad i tidigare forskning, trots bevis på att tillit har ett stort värde på många sätt. Den andra linjen för vår utgångspunkt var rapporter om barn och ungas försämrade välmående kopplat till skolans miljö, som för oss gjorde det angeläget att förstå och ringa in specialpedagogers arbete med fokus på fenomenet tillit. Det teoretiska ramverket vilar på en systemteoretisk (Öquist, 2018) utgångspunkt med tolkning utifrån Bronfenbrenners (1979) utvecklingsekologiska perspektiv. Då studiens syfte var ett utforskande av uppfattningar och erfarenheter, var en kvalitativ metodansats motiverad och vi valde att intervjua åtta specialpedagoger. Intervjuerna utgick från en tematiserad, semistrukturerad intervjuguide och analyserades utifrån tematisk analys enligt Braun och Clarke (2006). Resultatet från undersökningen visar att specialpedagogerna menade att tillit var centralt för hela deras uppdrag, att ett relationellt förhållningssätt är förutsättningen för det, att tillit inte är något statiskt samt att tillit behövs på individ-, grupp- och organisationsnivå för att kunna fungera. Möjligheterna för att skapa tillit i skolkulturen menade de låg hos dem själva utifrån personlighet och yrkeskompetens, samt till stor del berodde på vilket synsätt lärarna på skolan hade och därmed att deras förväntningar på specialpedagogernas insats blev realistisk. De organisatoriska förutsättningarna för att skapa en tillitskultur ansåg specialpedagogerna låg på rektors ansvar och i dennes förmåga att leda elevhälsoarbetet på skolan. Utifrån resultaten drar vi slutsatser om att det behövs en tydlig ledning som för in strukturella förutsättningar för att kunna bygga en tillitsfull skolkultur där alla tar sitt ansvar. Specialpedagogen har ett viktigt uppdrag för att medverka till det öppna klimat som en tillitsfull kultur har. Tillit behöver byggas på alla nivåer i skolans styrkedja och specialpedagogens bidrag till detta måste vara att finnas tillgänglig med den helhetssyn och empati som ligger i dennes kompetens. Vi menar att specialpedagogen behöver samverka med olika yrkesgrupper och leda ett arbete med att stärka olika former av tillit, utifrån Jederlunds (2021) begrepp kollegial-, kollektiv- och processtillit. Här ser vi att det finns ett behov av samsyn, där ett skifte från ett kategoriskt till ett relationellt perspektiv är nödvändigt och att det kräver ett större förändringsarbete som engagerar alla inom skolans organisation och som blir varaktigt.

In keeping with international trends in education, South Africa has embraced inclusive education as the means by which diverse learners, including those who experience barriers to learning, should be educated. Premised on the need for schools to change and become responsive to diverse learners by offering the support necessary for access and participation, inclusion is beginning to be realised in South African schools. Independent schools comprise a small but significant sector in South African education, and, despite not having access to state resources, are implementing inclusive education. This study investigates the schools belonging to the oldest and largest independent schools' association, the Independent Schools' Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) to establish the extent to which learners who experience barriers to learning are included in ISASA schools and the practices that facilitate their inclusion. Data gathered from a self-administered questionnaire completed by principals of ISASA schools reveals that the majority of ISASA schools include at least some learners who experience intrinsic or extrinsic barriers to learning. The most common intrinsic barriers are AD(H)D and learning disability and the most common extrinsic barriers are family problems and language barriers. Support for these learners is provided at school-wide and classroom level through the implementation of various inclusive practices that have been described in the international literature on inclusion and in local policy and guideline documents. These include developing policies that guide the support of learners who experience barriers to learning; ensuring that personnel are available to provide appropriate support; harnessing support for learners, their parents and teachers both from within the school and from the wider community; ensuring wheelchair access and employing classroom and other strategies that facilitate access and participation. ISASA schools differ in the extent to which they are inclusive. A few are not inclusive at all, but most are showing progress and commitment to inclusion. In so doing, these schools are implementing ISASA's Diversity and Equity Policy that requires member schools to be inclusive of learners who experience barriers to learning wherever this is feasible educationally, and also realising Constitutional values of equality, dignity and freedom of discrimination. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)