The goal of most teachers is to create an inclusive learning in their classrooms that encourage active participation.
But inclusive learning extends far wider than just the classroom.
Inclusive learning provides a welcoming learning environment for all students regardless of their needs. How can you create an environment which adapts to specific needs? This blog post explains.
What is inclusive learning?
Students have a wide range of learning styles. You can make your lessons more inclusive by varying the way you teach and assess learners in order to more confidently engage students.
Individualised projects help to create a tailored learning environment which leads to inclusive learning.
Group work can also contribute.
These projects allow students to interact with one another – but when doing this it is important to be careful when deciding upon groups.
Disguised disabilities, for example, can significantly disengage students from certain learning environments and would benefit from more specific styles.
Ultimately, students need to feel that they can bring their ‘whole selves’ to the education environment.
According to Imperial College:
They should feel that they are valued, equal and able to participate and contribute fully to the social, cultural and academic life of both the college and their disciplines. These values, when fully embodied, bring out the best in everyone.
The Equality Act 2010 that outlaws direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of protected characteristics including age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion and sexual orientation.
How can a learning environment be inclusive?
You can increase inclusive learning through a number of strategies:
Set classroom ground rules: You can increase inclusivity by asking the class to create ground rules for discussion.
Intentional course design: By using a diverse range of authors and examples you can create an inclusive educational experience. You can add a statement on your syllabus that expresses your commitment to an inclusive learning community which invites feedback.
Develop relationships with students: One of the key features of an inclusive learning environment is to find ways for students to share personal stories. If you strive to learn about each of your students and help the class to learn about one another, you will deepen mutual understanding. This could be doing via personalised learning pathways to build strengths and weaknesses.
Barriers to learning
Inclusive learning helps to reduce barriers to learning.
According to Unicef, nearly 50% of children with disabilities are not in school, compared to only 13% of their peers without disabilities. Children with disabilities are often denied the chance to take part in their communities, the workforce and the decisions that most affect them.
Inclusive learning where barriers to learning is concerned means real learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded – not only children with disabilities, but speakers of minority languages too.
For this to be achieved, Unicef say, teachers must be trained, buildings must be refurbished and students must receive accessible learning materials.
At the community level, stigma and discrimination must be tackled and individuals need to be educated on the benefit of inclusive education. At the national level, Governments must align laws and policies to suit.
An inclusive classroom for all
The goal for inclusive learning is “all children in the same classrooms, in the same schools.”
Through adapting teaching methods, classroom settings, personalised learning and other tools available you can create a fully inclusive system for all pupils.
EDClass strongly believes in learning which is inclusive for all.
Our remote learning application is designed to help break barriers to learning with online assistance through qualified and assisted tutors.
Your staff and our staff work with their students to give them support and assistance online whilst following a personalised learning pathway.
Your facility can benefit from our qualified online staff concentrating on educating your short term off-site students, leaving your staff free to educate your longer term students, such as pupils that suffer with mental health problems. Students will benefit from qualified and experienced teachers using our tailor made learning pathways to give your students the best learning opportunities that are available in a virtual learning environment.
Our unique safeguarding tools have been developed with these students in mind to give educators the best opportunity to deliver lessons to off-site students while monitoring their behaviour and safety. All virtual lessons can be streamed live for teacher viewing and are also recorded and automatically backed up and saved to ensure safeguarding all round. Find out more about safeguarding.
For a free demonstration call 01909 568 338.
