Studiens syfte är att belysa hur speciallärare med specialisering mot utvecklingsstörning lyfter fram metoder som gynnar kommunikationsutveckling för elever på särskolan. Vidare belyses vilka sociala sammanhang och verktyg som används för att främja kommunikationen för elever i särskolan. I studien tolkas resultatet ur det sociokulturella perspektivet där artefakter, kultur och den närmaste utvecklingszonen är de centrala begrepp som används i tolkningen. En hermeneutisk ansats används i studien och kvalitativa intervjuer av semistrukturerad karaktär genomfördes med åtta speciallärare, verksamma inom grund- och gymnasiesärskolor runt om i Sverige. En förhoppning var att studien skulle ge aha-upplevelser gällande hur lärare kan arbeta med kommunikation samt ge oss en större verktygslåda i vår profession som speciallärare. Resultatet presenteras i kategorier som framkommit vid analys av empirin. Resultatet visar att kommunikation inom särskolan innefattar många olika artefakter, och de artefakter som används mest är bilder och tecken. Kulturer som förekommer för att gynna kommunikationsutvecklingen för elever på särskolan är läsande och spela spel för att eleverna ska kunna bli så självständiga som möjligt. För de på tidig utvecklingsnivå lyfts imitation som centralt för att utveckla kommunikationen. I studien framkommer att både speciallärare och elever behöver stöttning i den närmaste utvecklingszonen vad det gäller kommunikation. Miljöerna är kommunikativt tillgängliga men dock endast på individ och gruppnivå och inte på organisationsnivå. / The purpose of the study is to shed light on how special education teachers with a focus on developmental disabilities, to highlight methods that benefit communication development for students at the special school. Furthermore, the social contexts and tools that are used to promote communication for students in special schools are highlighted. The study interprets the results from the socio-cultural perspective where artifacts, culture and the immediate development zone are the central concepts used in the interpretation. A hermeneutic approach is used in the study and qualitative interviews of a semi-structured nature were conducted with eight special teachers, active in primary and secondary special schools around Sweden. One hope was that the study would provide aha-experiences regarding how teachers can work with communication and give us a larger toolbox in our profession as special teachers. The results are presented in categories that emerged from the analysis of the empirical data.The results show that communication within the special school includes many different artifacts, and the artifacts that are used most are images and signs. Cultures that exist to promote communication development for students at the special school are reading and playing games so that the students can become as independent as possible. For those at an early stage of development, imitation is emphasized as central to developing communication. The study shows that both special needs teachers and students need support in the immediate development zone when it comes to communication. The environments are communicatively accessible, but only at the individual and group level and not at the organizational level.

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to illustrate how Work-based Learning (WBL) is handled in Special Education High Schools. With this purpose in mind, four questions have been formulated and they focus on what proportion of the total amount of high school students in the Special Education High School National Program who is completing their WBL according to governmental regulations, what challenges the WBL managers experience in working with WBL, what reasons the WBL managers see as decisive for students not completing their WBL and what benefits the WBL managers see with WBL. To answer the study’s purpose and questions, a survey was conducted, where we looked for respondents on a nationwide level. Data from the survey was analyzed with the help of a theoretical basis that we chose. This theory was based on three different perspectives on special education; the compensatory, the critical and the dilemma perspective by Nilholm (2007). A total of 127 respondents were included in the study and there were respondents from all three parts of Sweden; Norrland, Svealand and Götaland. The majority of respondents work as vocational teachers, Special Ed teachers working with the developmentally disabled and high school level teachers. The results showed that compulsory WBL education is an important part of the Special Education High School National Program, but at the same time difficult to implement due to lack of time, lack of internships and students’ individual abilities to complete a WBL. / SammanfattningSyftet med denna studie är att belysa hur styrdokumentens krav när det gäller arbetsplatsförlagt lärande (APL) hanteras i gymnasiesärskolan. Kopplat till syftet har fyra frågeställningar formulerats och de fokuserar på hur stor andel av det totala elevantalet på gymnasiesärskolans nationella program som genomför sin APL enligt styrdokumentens krav i dagsläget, vilka utmaningar de APL-ansvariga upplever sig möta i arbetet med APL, vilka orsaker de APL-ansvariga ser som avgörande för att eleven inte genomför sin APL, vilken nytta de APL-ansvariga ser med APL. För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar genomfördes en enkätundersökning, där vi sökte efter informanter på ett rikstäckande plan. Data från enkäten analyserades med hjälp av en av oss vald teoretisk utgångspunkt. Denna teori utgick från tre olika perspektiv på specialpedagogik; det kompensatoriska, det kritiska och dilemmaperspektivet av Nilholm (2007).  Det var sammanlagt 127 informanter som ingick i enkätstudien och det fanns informanter hemmahörande från alla tre landsdelar i Sverige, Norrland, Svealand och Götaland. Majoriteten av informanterna arbetar som yrkeslärare, speciallärare mot utvecklingsstörning och ämneslärare på gymnasienivå. Resultatet visade att den obligatoriska APL utbildningen är en viktig del av ett nationellt program i gymnasiesärskolan, men den är samtidigt svår att genomföra på grund av tidsbrist för uppdraget, brist på APL-platser och elevernas individuella förutsättningar att klara av en APL.

Since 1994, the South African education system has undergone a number of paradigm shifts culminating in the implementation of the policy of Inclusive Education as highlighted in Education White Paper 6: Building an Inclusive Education and Training System. The purpose of this research was to explore how foundation phase learners who experience severe intellectual barriers to learning are provided with high levels of support at special schools in the Pietermaritzburg district. A case study design was embarked upon as this allowed for an in-depth exploration of the above research question. Three special schools in the Pietermaritzburg district that cater for learners who experience severe intellectual barriers to learning were chosen for this investigation. Quantitative and qualitative research methods, consisting of questionnaires, interviews and observation were utilised. The findings reveal that educators at these schools do provide high levels of support to foundation phase learners who experience severe intellectual barriers to learning. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Upon close examination of Education White Paper 6: Building an Inclusive Education System, it became evident that, special schools have a crucial role to play. EWP6 clearly outlines the roles of special schools as resource centres. This entails a paradigm shift from a medical to a social model.The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of resource centres in supporting learners who require high levels of support, in an inclusive education system in the Pietermaritzburg district. The study was conducted at a special school with 23 respondents. The triangulated data were collected through participant observations, open-ended questionnaire and interviews. This study revealed that not only are SSRCs totally committed to the paradigm shift but SSRCs are “leading " the way with regard to implementing inclusive strategies like SIAS process, the curriculum changes and alternate means of assessment. SSRCs are valuable resources that are currently under utilized. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Ten einde 'n kurrikulum relevant en doeltreffend te kan hou, is di t noodsaaklik om die kurrikulum gereeld te evalueer en dienooreenkomstig die bevindinge aan te pas, indien nodig. Spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika beskik oor 'n eiesoortige kernkurrikulum wat hoofsaaklik ontwikkel is vir leerders wat primer verstandelik matig gestrem is. Om verskeie redes, waarvan die belangrikste is, dat die meerderheid leerders wat hulle tans in spesiale skole bevind nie verstandelik matig gestremd is nie, word die werklike doeltreffendheid en relevansie van hierdie kurrikulum bevraagteken. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was derhalwe om die doeltreffendheid en relevansie van die kernkurrikulum wat vir die meerderheid spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika van toepassing is, te bepaal. 'n Sekondere doel van die ondersoek was om 'n kurrikulumevalueringsmodel te ontwikkel aan die hand waarvan kurrikulumevalueerders 'n kurrikulum vanuit 'n literatuurperspektief sou kon evalueer. Ten einde die ondersoek teoreties te fundeer, is 'n li teratuurondersoek onderneem na die grondslae en komponente van 'n kurrikulum. Op grond van die navorsingsresultate is die kurrikulumevalueringsmodel ontwikkel. Twee van die kurrikulumgrondslae wat by wyse van die navorsing blootgele is, is die leerder en die gemeenskap. By wyse van 'n li teratuur- en dokumentasie-ondersoek is bepaal wat die eise is wat spesialeskoolleerders en die gemeenskap aan die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole stel. Aan die hand van hierdie bevindinge is kurrikulumevalueringskriteria ontwikkel waarmee die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole toe geevalueer is. By die toepassing van hierdie kriteria is gevind dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole in vele opsigte nie behoorlik aan die eise van die leerders en die gemeenskap voldoen nie. Die gevolgtrekking kon derhalwe gemaak word dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole oor die algemeen nie doel treffend en relevant genoeg is nie. Aanbevelings is gemaak oor hoe die kernkurrikulum moontlik meer doeltreffend en relevant gemaak kan word. / Sustaining curriculum relevance and effectiveness, necessitates regular curriculum evaluation and adjustment in concurrence with the evaluation results. Special schools in South Africa have at their disposal their own · peculiar curriculum which was developed mainly for learners who are primarily mildly mentally disabled. For various reasons, the most important of which is that the majority of learners currently in special schools are not mildly mentally disadvantaged, the relevancy and effectiveness of this curriculum are questioned. The primary aim of this research was therefore to determine if the core curriculum for special education, which is applicable to the majority of special schools in South Africa, is relevant and effective. A secondary aim of this investigation was to develop a model for curriculum evaluation by means of which curriculum evaluators would be able to evaluate a curriculum from a literature perspective. With a view to founding this research theoretically, literature research was conducted into the foundations and components of the curriculum. On the basis of the research findings, the model for curriculum evaluation was developed. Two of the curriculum foundations that were disclosed by means of the research, were the learner and the community. By means of an investigation of literature and other relevant documentation, the demands made on the curriculum by the learner and the community, were determined. On the basis of these findings, criteria were developed by means of which the core curriculum for special schools was then assessed. When the above criteria were applied, it was found that in many respects the core curriculum for special schools did not completely comply with the demands of the learners and the community. The conclusion could therefore be drawn that the core curriculum for special schools are in general not effective and relevant enough. Proposals were made on how the core curriculum could possibly be made more effective and relevant. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didaktiek)

Upon close examination of Education White Paper 6: Building an Inclusive Education System, it became evident that, special schools have a crucial role to play. EWP6 clearly outlines the roles of special schools as resource centres. This entails a paradigm shift from a medical to a social model.The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of resource centres in supporting learners who require high levels of support, in an inclusive education system in the Pietermaritzburg district. The study was conducted at a special school with 23 respondents. The triangulated data were collected through participant observations, open-ended questionnaire and interviews. This study revealed that not only are SSRCs totally committed to the paradigm shift but SSRCs are “leading " the way with regard to implementing inclusive strategies like SIAS process, the curriculum changes and alternate means of assessment. SSRCs are valuable resources that are currently under utilized. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Vi valt att fördjupa oss i pedagogers dokumentationsarbete utifrån den nya lagstiftningen som kom i juni 2014, gällande arbete kring extra anpassningar, särskilt stöd och åtgärdsprogram Metoden som i denna studie används är en enkätundersökning i form av ett onlineformulär, med möjlighet till fritextsvar, som vi analyserar både kvantitativt och kvalitativt. Respondenterna är yrkesverksamma pedagoger i gymnasiesärskolans olika program. Resultatet av studien ger en enhetlig bild av hur godtyckligt statens intentioner realiseras och implementeras i skolans verksamhet. Detta beroende på tjänstemännens tolkningar av statens givna ramar. Studien visar en stor diskrepans mellan respondenternas verksamheters olika implementering, förändrade arbetssätt och rutiner kring dokumentation, sedan lagändringen i Skollagens(2014), 3:e kap 8-9§. Styrdokument tolkas, verkställs och förankras beroende på ledning, styrning och stimulans, maktkultur och diskurser. Resultat visar även på en ökad kollegial samverkan, då respondenterna skriver färre åtgärdsprogram än tidigare. Majoriteten av respondenterna talar om ett oförändrat arbete eller ingen förändring med Arbete kring extra anpassningar, särskilt stöd och åtgärdsprogram (Skolverket, 2014). Respondenterna ger även uttryck för otydliga direktiv, på grund av styrdokument med stort tolkningsutrymme och avsaknad av tydliga ramar.

The study explored how a practitioner and a teacher accommodated children living with cerebral palsy in Grade R, also referred to as the reception year, at two special schools, especially how they adapted the environment and used assistive devices. Cerebral Palsy is the most common form of a neurological disorder that appears in infancy or early childhood, permanently affecting body movement and muscle coordination. Research has illuminated that early specialist intervention such as assistive devices, augmentative and alternative commutation methods and assistive technology can make the world of difference to the future of the child. My research afforded me the opportunity to observe the children in Grade R living with cerebral palsy, with the practitioner and the teacher in their natural setting at school level. I followed the deductive paradigm, and adopted a case study design. The use of assistive devices and argumentative and alternative communication has historically been the domain of occupational-, speech- and physiotherapists. With the introduction of inclusive education and the new screening, identification, assessment and support policy to be conducted in all Grade R classes at all schools in South Africa, my research will be beneficial to mainstream and full-service schools, as well as special schools. Young children living with cerebral palsy will be included in all these schools and will need support from expert teachers and practitioners, who are knowledgeable about their requirements for an adapted environment and the use of assistive devices and augmentative and alternative communication methods. The study found that the Grade R staff at the special schools were knowledgeable, but their knowledge was superficial, their classrooms lacked adapted toys, and assistive technology was non-existent. Teachers and practitioners need practical training on the importance of movement for children living with cerebral palsy and the training should emphasize that experiencing the world through assistive devices alleviates barriers to learning and development. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Ten einde 'n kurrikulum relevant en doeltreffend te kan hou, is di t noodsaaklik om die kurrikulum gereeld te evalueer en dienooreenkomstig die bevindinge aan te pas, indien nodig. Spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika beskik oor 'n eiesoortige kernkurrikulum wat hoofsaaklik ontwikkel is vir leerders wat primer verstandelik matig gestrem is. Om verskeie redes, waarvan die belangrikste is, dat die meerderheid leerders wat hulle tans in spesiale skole bevind nie verstandelik matig gestremd is nie, word die werklike doeltreffendheid en relevansie van hierdie kurrikulum bevraagteken. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was derhalwe om die doeltreffendheid en relevansie van die kernkurrikulum wat vir die meerderheid spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika van toepassing is, te bepaal. 'n Sekondere doel van die ondersoek was om 'n kurrikulumevalueringsmodel te ontwikkel aan die hand waarvan kurrikulumevalueerders 'n kurrikulum vanuit 'n literatuurperspektief sou kon evalueer. Ten einde die ondersoek teoreties te fundeer, is 'n li teratuurondersoek onderneem na die grondslae en komponente van 'n kurrikulum. Op grond van die navorsingsresultate is die kurrikulumevalueringsmodel ontwikkel. Twee van die kurrikulumgrondslae wat by wyse van die navorsing blootgele is, is die leerder en die gemeenskap. By wyse van 'n li teratuur- en dokumentasie-ondersoek is bepaal wat die eise is wat spesialeskoolleerders en die gemeenskap aan die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole stel. Aan die hand van hierdie bevindinge is kurrikulumevalueringskriteria ontwikkel waarmee die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole toe geevalueer is. By die toepassing van hierdie kriteria is gevind dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole in vele opsigte nie behoorlik aan die eise van die leerders en die gemeenskap voldoen nie. Die gevolgtrekking kon derhalwe gemaak word dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole oor die algemeen nie doel treffend en relevant genoeg is nie. Aanbevelings is gemaak oor hoe die kernkurrikulum moontlik meer doeltreffend en relevant gemaak kan word. / Sustaining curriculum relevance and effectiveness, necessitates regular curriculum evaluation and adjustment in concurrence with the evaluation results. Special schools in South Africa have at their disposal their own · peculiar curriculum which was developed mainly for learners who are primarily mildly mentally disabled. For various reasons, the most important of which is that the majority of learners currently in special schools are not mildly mentally disadvantaged, the relevancy and effectiveness of this curriculum are questioned. The primary aim of this research was therefore to determine if the core curriculum for special education, which is applicable to the majority of special schools in South Africa, is relevant and effective. A secondary aim of this investigation was to develop a model for curriculum evaluation by means of which curriculum evaluators would be able to evaluate a curriculum from a literature perspective. With a view to founding this research theoretically, literature research was conducted into the foundations and components of the curriculum. On the basis of the research findings, the model for curriculum evaluation was developed. Two of the curriculum foundations that were disclosed by means of the research, were the learner and the community. By means of an investigation of literature and other relevant documentation, the demands made on the curriculum by the learner and the community, were determined. On the basis of these findings, criteria were developed by means of which the core curriculum for special schools was then assessed. When the above criteria were applied, it was found that in many respects the core curriculum for special schools did not completely comply with the demands of the learners and the community. The conclusion could therefore be drawn that the core curriculum for special schools are in general not effective and relevant enough. Proposals were made on how the core curriculum could possibly be made more effective and relevant. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didaktiek)