Why Is It Important To Create An Inclusive Teaching And Learning Environment

Inclusive learning is about ensuring all your learners have the opportunity to be involved and included in the learning process. It’s also about treating all learners equally and fairly, without directly or indirectly excluding anyone. Inclusion is about attitudes as well as behaviour, as learners can be affected by

Inclusive practice is about adapting what is being delivered to make learning accessible to everyone regardless of ability, special education need (SEN) or any other barrier that might exist. When planning to meet the needs of everyone in the group it is essential that the teacher has as much information about everyone as possible. (The City and Guilds textbook level 3 Award in Education and Training). Features of inclusive teaching and learning starts with knowing which learning styles your learners prefer, to do this you can use VARK (visual, aural, read/write and kinetic) test which was designed by Neil Fleming to help learners and teachers know what learning methods they are best suited to e.g. in the first lesson my tutor asked for us

In school everyone learns differently; however, according to the article The Myth of Learning Styles, “The idea of learning styles is based on a theory… developed in the early 1980’s.” (pg 1.) A lot has certainly changed from the 1980’s as we learn new more material in every class we take. With this being said, someone the scientists referred to in the article “assumed” that learning styles challenged the way of the educational system when in reality, it is simply a myth. Students, like myself, only prefer to process information that they find useful or interesting to him or her. Thus giving us the problems of that teachers may take too long to cover one idea, and students may miss out out on information because he or she did not prefer that learning style.

For years, there have been many theorists who have shared their views on how individuals learn. Such research has determined that individuals have different learning styles. It is important for teacher to understand the learning styles of both themselves and their students because it helps them to relay the subject knowledge to the students. The teacher is in a position where they must be able to assess the learning styles of their students. This means that the students and teachers are both in a process of learning.

Learning style is an individual 's unique approach to learning based on strengths, weaknesses, and, preferences. Learning styles explains the concept that every person learns differently. Assessments of learning style typically ask individuals to evaluate what sort of information presentation they prefer, and, what kind of mental activity they find most engaging, and, attractive for them. Theories about learning styles agree that all people can be classified according to their style of learning. In this paper different theories about learning styles are reviewed briefly. At the end, Gendlin experiential theory is reviewed in detail.

It will be important to create an inclusive teaching and Learning Environment so my learners will have the opportunity to be involved and included in the process.I will need to make sure that I treat all my learners equally and fairly without directly excluding any of my learners.I must take into consideration that I won't be teaching my subject ( Painting & Decorating ) to a group of learners who are all the same, but to group of individuals with different abilities and needs which I must recognise.

Assignment 302 - Understanding and using inclusive teaching and learning approaches in education and training

When asking the question, is the inclusive classroom model working, the answer is yes. Inclusion is the right direction to go; however, the model that is in place is not the most effective for education. The Education Law for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 mandate that schools provide free public education to all students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 ended the idea that a free public education meant segregating students with special needs in separate classrooms or wings of the school, and thus began the “inclusive classroom” movement. What does the law actually mean in regards to “inclusion”? All learners between the ages of 3 to 21 with handicaps, defined as students with hearing impairment, visual impaired, physically disabled, emotionally disturbed, or having special learning disabilities, will be provided a free public education. Furthermore, each of these students will have in place an Individualized Educational Plan where the educator and parent decide on the least restrictive environment possible (which in most cases is the regular classroom) as well as set educational, behavioral, or social-emotional goals for the student.

We all learn in different ways, influenced by the combination of our past educational experiences, study practices and personal approach to specific tasks. This can be described as our learning style, defined as ‘particular ways of gathering, processing and storing information and experiences’ (Cuthbert, P.F., 2005).

. Inequality affects everyone in the society. Early years professionals need to acknowledge diversity, equality, and anti-discriminatory issues are part of everyday life in the childcare set-ting. Differences in gender, colour, disability, beliefs and values lead to questions needing answers. It is important that children of today are properly educated and develop positive at-titudes and behaviour. As role models, early practitioners play a vital role in teaching and promoting diversity and equality to all children. Children with disabilities face many barriers and can experience discrimination, prejudice, and social exclusion. The learning environment should be inclusive to all children. Early year’s professionals should have a good attitude

Learning styles should be identified as part of the initial assessment procedure, making the tutor aware of each learner’s individual learning preferences and crucially how best the learner will learn.

Maslow identified needs that must be built upon for development to occur. These needs are physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization (Maslow, 1943). Physiological needs include access to food, water, shelter, sex, and breathing. If students do not have access to food, then their basic needs are not being met. If their basic needs are not being met, then they will have difficulty reaching esteem and self-actualization. This is an issue because higher education serves as a tool for students to gain experience in the realm of self-actualization (problem solving, creativity, and morality).

A lot of people do not agree with inclusion in classrooms. They say, “the disabled student might be disruptive” or “the other students might get upset when the teacher has to slow down for the disabled student.” All students have their right to an education, whether it be inclusive or not. If a student is disruptive, the teacher should be able to handle it. Although people think inclusion has many disadvantages, there are far more advantages and benefits for all students, teachers, families and even for communities. Since everyone can benefit from inclusion,  we as society should make schools and communities inclusive.

We are probably all familiar with Abraham Maslow 's Theory of Hierarchical Needs; Psychological Needs, Safety Needs, Belongingness and Love Needs, Esteem Needs, Need to Know and Understand, Aesthetic Needs, and Self-Actualization Needs. And we probably all remember that according to Maslow 's theory, needs that are in the lower hierarchy must be at least partially met before a person will try to satisfy higher-level needs. Although ultimately our goal is to aid students in self-actualizing or becoming "all that one can be," they must first achieve the level of Need to Know and Understand.

Every child has the ability to learn, but the way a child learns and processes knowledge can be very different, especially for a child with special needs. (Mainstreaming Special Education in the Classroom) As a society we owe all children the chance to reach their full potential, thus we must set up an environment where this accessible. Integrated education unarguably allows the must vulnerable and excluded children this chance. According to Inclusiveschools.org, “Inclusion” does not simply mean placing students with physical or mental disability in general mainstream classrooms, but rather offers fundamental change to school community and how children learn altogether. Effective models of inclusive education according to various sources, is the right model of education for special needs students because it allows greater access to mainstream curriculum, preparation for integration in an inclusive society, and promotes a tolerant and inclusive society. (Full inclusion: Has its time arrived?, The Benefits of inclusive Education.)