Education researchers have long advocated modifications to the teaching–learning process in order to make the school a more inclusive space and conducive to individual and group development of students with diverse (including special) educational needs. This is to develop competences, skills and values that will allow students to better prepare for adult life in a rapidly changing world. This demand is not new and is not only a demand but refers to reforming the education process. In Poland, for many years the schools have been undergoing dynamic changes in many different dimensions, partly because of facilitating students with special needs. In the considerations of education researchers, as well as in the daily educational practice of teachers, the question arises as to what should be done to optimise the teaching–learning process and how. One possible idea for such optimisation is to implement the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach. The purpose of this chapter is to seek an answer to the question of to what extent the reality of the Polish schools corresponds to the principles of the UDL. An analysis of the traditional learning process through the UDL lens has identified those areas in which UDL approach solutions are provided and also where it is worthwhile to implement them.
This chapter discusses the assumptions, implementation and deliverables of an action research project in a selected Polish class of integrated form. The main objective of the project was to trigger changes in the learning–teaching process based on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach and thus promote inclusive education. The action research lasted one school semester. The empirical data, mainly qualitative, triangulating various sources of information and synthesising perspectives, were used to identify specific topics and threads identified in the gathered inputs, to present it in an orchestrated manner and to interpret it. It has been indicated that UDL approach implementation has a positive impact on the course of the teaching–learning process and optimises it to enhance the activity, commitment, self-reliance and responsibility of students and develops their cooperation, which breeds inclusion in education. Meanwhile, it stimulates teachers to change their mindset with a view to the essence of success in education and supports their daily practice.
Specjalne potrzeby edukacyjne (SPE) mog¹ wp³ywaae na zdolnooeae uczenia siê i nabywania kompetencji przez dzieci, ale tak¿e wp³ywaae na relacje miêdzy rówieoenikami w dzieciñstwie. Uczniowie ze SPE rzadko ciesz¹ siê popularnooeci¹ woeród rówieoeników; znacznie czêoeciej s¹ marginalizowani, a nawet odrzucani. Niniejszy artyku³ analizuje problem relacji miêdzy uczniami ze specjalnymi potrzebami edukacyjnymi i uczniami bez specjalnych potrzeb edukacyjnych. W szczególnooeci koncentruje siê na g³ównej roli relacji rówieoeniczych w ogólnym rozwoju dziecka. UwyraŸniono tak¿e problem, w jaki sposób szczególne potrzeby edukacyjne wp³ywaj¹ na relacje z rówieoenikami. W zakresie badañ przedstawionych w tekoecie skupiono siê na okreoeleniu socjometrycznej pozycji dzieci ze specjalnymi potrzebami edukacyjnymi w ramach grup rówieoeniczych w klasie. S³owa kluczowe: uczniowie o specjalnych potrzebach edukacyjnych, relacje rówieoenicze, klasa integracyjna, pozycja socjometryczna Peer relationships between pupils with and without special educational needs in inclusive education Special educational needs can affect a child ability of learning and acquiring competences, but also affect childhood peer relationships. Pupils with SEN rarely enjoy popularity among their peers; much more often they are marginalized or even rejected. This paper analyses the issue of relationships between pupils with and without special educational needs. It particularly focuses on major role of peer relationships in the overall development of a child. It was also emphasizes the problem how special educational needs affect peer relationships. As far as the research presented in the text is concerned it was focused on determining sociometric position of children with special educational needs within classroom peer groups.
In Poland, the right to education is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Article 70). People with disabilities have full access to the free universal education system. The Act of Educational Law published on the 14th of December 2016 (Journal of Laws 2017, Item 59, Article 1, Point 6 & 7) guarantees free and unlimited access to all types of education to students with special educational needs. This is done in accordance with their cognitive, social, and emotional development, educational needs, and predisposition. They are also granted the right to individualized care plans, approaches, and curricula. Students with special educational needs are offered unlimited access to services specializing in compensation, enhancement, and improvement of their wellbeing. The complex and multifaceted approach that is provided for students with disabilities in education is not only to support their comprehensive development but also to develop skills that will allow them to: successfully communicate (verbally and nonverbally), make their own choices, be creative, solve problems, be able to assess the impact of their actions on their lives and their environment, cope in various situations, build their own system of values and beliefs, and be able to work well with others. Support for students with special educational needs should be individually tailored depending on students' age, type and severity of disability, type of service (educational, rehabilitation, occupational) and also on students' interests, talents, and preferences.
The action research reported in this chapter lasted for one semester. This was a novel time because schools, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suspended their in-person activities and implemented online learning. This has necessitated the formulation of research purposes and problems appropriate to the dynamically changing educational reality (and beyond). This chapter provides a theoretical background to the risks to education during a pandemic. The assumptions, implementation and results of the research project implemented by the action research method in the selected Polish class are also discussed. The empirical data, mainly qualitative, triangulated by various sources of information, reconciled perspectives that were used to identify specific topics and threads appearing in the gathered inputs, to present it in an orchestrated manner and to interpret it. The analyses carried out lead to the conclusion that the application of the UDL approach promotes the success of inclusive education, despite the difficult experiences of the pandemic period. It has been proven that UDL approach implementation has a positive impact on the course of the teaching-learning process, optimises it to enhance the activity, commitment, self-reliance and responsibility of students and develops their cooperation, which breeds inclusion in education. The extraordinary situation faced by teachers and pupils due to the need to switch to online learning, contrary to temporary concerns, has reinforced the changes brought about by the implementation of the UDL approach in the learning process.
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