Using virtual classroom for teaching special needs students in inclusive classrooms during and beyond Covid-19: Teachers' perspectives / Uso del aula virtual para enseñar a estudiantes con necesidades especiales en aulas inclusivas durante y después de la COVID-19: perspectivas de los docentes

Encouraging and continuing inclusive learning environments is important to allow all students to be able to fully participate, engage, and learn. The online learning environment obliges educators to think creative-ly about how to achieve this goal. The aim was to investigate using virtual classroom for teaching special needs students in inclusive classrooms dur-ing and beyond Covid-19 from the perspectives of their teachers. Teachers of special education from integration schools in the middle stage in Mak-kah were targeted. A 15-item survey instrument was developed particular-ly for this research study . Quantitative research is carried out with the aim to investigate using virtual classroom(VC) for teaching special needs stu-dents in inclusive classrooms during and beyond Covid-19 from the per-spectives of their teachers. A survey method was used. Data were collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire, which was based on the technology acceptance model(TAM). Pearson correlation(R) and mul-tiple regression (MRA) were used to analyze data . Results indicated that the BI is positively affected by PU, PEOU. PU, PEOU yielded a coeffi-cient of multiple regression (R) and a multiple correlation square. This shows that a total variance in BI is accounted for by PU, PEOU. In con-clusion, the findings in this study contribute to the literature on TAM and its use in special education in particular.(AU)

Fomentar y continuar con los entornos de aprendizaje inclusivos es importante para permitir que todos los estudiantes puedan participar, comprometerse y aprender plenamente. El entorno de aprendizaje online obliga a los educadores a pensar de forma creativa sobre cómo lograr este objetivo. El objetivo era investigar el uso del aula virtual para enseñar a estudiantes con necesidades especiales en aulas inclusivas durante y después de la COVID-19 desde la perspectiva de sus docentes. La investigación cuantitativa se lleva a cabo con el objetivo de investigar el uso del aula virtual (VC) para enseñar a estudiantes con necesidades especiales en aulas inclusivas durante y después de Covid-19 desde las perspectivas de sus maestros. Se utilizó un método de encuesta. Las variables independientes son la utilidad percibida (PU), la facilidad de uso percibida (PEOU), mientras que la variable dependiente es la intención de comportamiento del estudiante (BI). Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un cuestionario estructurado autoadministrado, que se basó en el modelo de aceptación de tecnología (TAM). Se utilizaron la correlación de Pearson (r) y la regresión múltiple (MRA) para analizar los datos. Los resultados indicaron que el BI se ve afectado positivamente por PU, PEOU. PU, PEOU arrojaron un coeficiente de regresión múltiple (R) y un cuadrado de correlación múltiple. Esto muestra que PU, PEOU explican una variación total en BI.(AU)

Accessible University: Architectural Design for Special Needs Users Integration. Design Proposals for Politecnico di Torino.

In Italian and international universities, more and more attention is paid to special needs users who are part of the student and academic community. The socalled special needs are students and employers with specific needs deriving from physical disabilities or cognitive difficulties of different nature and severity, for whom it is necessary to provide specific services for the ordinary carrying out of their activities forward their full inclusion in the university community. The problem of special needs full inclusion must be addressed by overcoming the idea that they constitute a separate group from the rest of the community. Indeed, there should not be a project for special needs, but all spaces should be inclusive and designed "for all". The paper describes the TAL, Turin Accessibility Lab research group, activities concern the accessibility of study spaces, within the perspectives of Politecnico di Torino Masterplan and with the involvement of the users themselves and in collaboration with the institutional actors who deal with users with special needs.

La provisión de apoyos fuera del aula como medida de atención a la diversidad y sus efectos en la inclusión educativa / The Provision of out-of Classroom Supportsas a Measure of Attention to Diversityand its Effects on Inclusion

Este estudio analiza el impacto del apoyo fuera del aula como medida de atención a la diversidad en el alumnado de primaria, además de las nominaciones positivas y negativas que emiten y reciben, así como sus perfiles sociométricos. La muestra representa a 20 colegios ordinarios de la región de Extremadura (España). Participaron 881 alumnos (de 6 a 12 años) pertenecientes a 43 aulas de primaria, de primero a sexto curso; de estos, 98 alumnos (11,12 %) presentaban necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo. Como instrumento se utilizó un cuestionario sociométrico basado en el método de nominación de iguales y la asociación de atributos. Los resultados muestran que los alumnos con necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo (ACNEAE) obtienen más rechazo y que este aumenta a medida que lo hace el nivel educativo. Además, estos alumnos reciben más nominaciones por parte de sus iguales con NEAE. Los alumnos con y sin NEAE muestran perfiles sociométricos distintos que denotan perfiles comportamentales diferentes. Los resultados muestran que la provisión de apoyos fuera del aula parece actuar como factor inhibidor de la inclusión educativa. (AU)

This study analyzes the impact of out-of-classroom supports as diversity attention measures on primary school students as well as determining the choices and rejections they make and receive, and their sociometric profiles. The sample represents 20 ordinary school of the region Extremadura in Spain. A total of 881 students (6 to 12 years old) from 43 primary school classrooms from first to sixth grade participated; of whom, 98 students (11,12 %) had specific educational support needs. A sociometric questionnaire based on the method of peer nomination and attribute association was used for data collection. The results show that students with specific educational sup-port needs (SEN) are subject to greater rejection and that this rejection increases as the educational level goes up. These students also receive more choices and rejections from their peers who also have SEN. Students with and without SEN show different soci-ometric profiles that denote different behavioral profiles. These results show that the provision of out-of-classroom supports seems to act as a hindering factor of educational inclusion. (AU)

Relación docente-estudiante y compromiso escolar: percepción de estudiantes secundarios con necesidades educativas especiales / Teacher-student relationship and student engagement: perceptions of secondary students with special educational needs / Relação professor-aluno e compromisso escolar: percepção de jovens com necessidades educacionais especiais

Resumen (analítico) Investigaciones previas sostienen que la relación docente-estudiante es un factor relevante para el compromiso escolar y rendimiento académico. Sin embargo, su impacto ha sido poco explorado en estudiantes con necesidades educativas especiales. Este estudio examina la influencia de la relación docente-estudiante en el compromiso escolar según la percepción de estudiantes de primer año medio con necesidades educativas especiales de una Región de Chile. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, de tipo fenomenológico y de alcance descriptivo-analítico. Se desarrollaron diez entrevistas en profundidad a estudiantes con necesidades educativas especiales, las que se analizaron mediante el método de comparación constante de la teoría fundamentada. Los resultados revelan el rol clave de los/as docentes en el compromiso escolar a través de la satisfacción de las necesidades de vinculación y competencia de sus estudiantes, pero no de su autonomía.

Abstract (analytical) The results of existing research studies show that the teacher-student relationship is a relevant factor that affects academic engagement and school performance. However, there is limited evidence of its impact on students with special educational needs. This study examines the influence of the teacher-student relationship on school engagement based on the perceptions of students with special educational needs in their first year of high school education in Chile. The study used a qualitative, phenomenological, and descriptive-analytical design. A total of ten indepth interviews were conducted with students with special educational needs. The data was analysed using the methodological guidelines of grounded theory. The results highlight the key role of teachers in academic engagement by satisfying students' psychological needs in the areas of connection and competence, but not satisfying students' need for autonomy.

Resumo (analítico) Pesquisas anteriores afirmam que a relação professor-aluno é um fator relevante para o engajamento e desempenho acadêmico. No entanto, seu impacto tem sido pouco explorado em alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais. Este estudo examina a influência da relação professor-aluno no compromisso escolar segundo a percepção dos alunos com alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais do primeiro ano do ensino médio, da Chile. O desenho foi qualitativo, fenomenológico, descritivo-analítico em escopo. Foram realizadas 10 entrevistas em profundidade com alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais. Os dados foram analisados segundo as diretrizes metodológicas da teoria fundamentada nos dados. Os resultados apontam para o papel fundamental do professor no comprometimento escolar, por meio da satisfação das necessidades de vinculação e competência de seus alunos, mas não de sua autonomia.

Nature Interest Scale - Development and Evaluation of a Measurement Instrument for Individual Interest in Nature.

Interest is an important factor for successful learning that has been the subject of intensive research for decades. Although interest in nature is of great importance for environmental education, to date there is no valid and reliable measurement tool. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and test a scale for interest in nature, the Nature Interest Scale (NIS). In study 1, nine items were selected based on the three dimensions of the psychological interest construct to represent interest in nature. The factor structure of this new measurement instrument, was tested using confirmatory factor analyses. The results show that the instrument represents the three dimensions of the interest construct well. In study 2 the validity (discriminant and convergent validity) as well as the reliability (internal consistency, composite reliability, test-retest reliability) of the NIS were demonstrated. In study 3, the applicability of the NIS was tested with a different target group, students with learning disabilities. The results of this factor analysis also confirm the factor structure of the scale. Thus, this study provides a valid and reliable measurement tool for individual interest in nature that can be used for future research.

Every School Healthy: An Urban School Case Study.

BACKGROUND: In this case study, multiple participants in a large urban school district used the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to guide development of a district wellness policy. The model's health education component is highlighted, focusing on concerns for special needs students and ones speaking English as a New Language (ENL). METHODS: Organizational structure was developed around the WSCC model and district wellness policy implementation through coordination, collaboration, and communication (3Cs) of programs, policies, and processes/practices (3Ps). RESULTS: The WSCC approach guided the creation of a district wellness policy that influenced programming for students with special needs and required Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data collection. Using YRBS and School Health Index (SHI) data in planning sexual health education illustrated improvements over time. Formation of the School Health and Wellness Collaborative under WSCC improved family engagement in sexual health education programs and practices. Relationships were established with community partners to impact student's sexual risk behaviors. Finally, the district co-created and implemented an evidenced-based sexual health curriculum, modifying it for special education and ENL students. CONCLUSIONS: The WSCC approach is system changing. It takes time to develop the relationships vital to improve the 3Cs and 3Ps. Success is enhanced with a district wellness coordinator, the right people at the table, valid health data, and administrative and board support.

The Association of Parent Education and Family Monthly Income on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) among Students with Special Needs in Kelantan, Malaysia / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

This paper investigate the effect of parents’ education background and family monthly income on the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of students with special needs in Kelantan, Malaysia. This cross-sectional method study was employed multistage random sampling to obtain information drawn from 130 participants from 10 selected school in Kelantan, Malaysia. Questionnaire was used to obtain parents’ education background, family monthly income and demographic variables. Students IQ were assessed using Comprehensive Test for Non-Verbal Intelligence (CTONI 2nd Edition). Data analysis involve independent sample t-test, one-way between group ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression. From analysis of IQ score, 63.8% of the special needs students scored very poor IQ, 12.3% scored below average and only 1.5% score average IQ. Significant mean difference were revealed between age group (p = 0.002), parents’ education (p = 0.018) and family monthly income (p < 0.05) on special needs students IQ. Post-hoc tukey shows significance between parents who never went to school, went to secondary school (p = 0.037) and university/college (p = 0.021). In term of family monthly income, significance difference were found between family with low and high monthly income (p < 0.05). Family monthly income (r = 0.393, p < 0.01) showed positive moderate correlation on special needs students IQ. After being forwarded by multiple linear regression, it was found that family monthly income (B = 3.605, p < 0.05) and age group of special needs students (B = 0.879, p = 0.002) were significant predictor for IQ score and explained 22.5% of the variance (R2 = 0.225, F (5,124) = 83.94, p < 0.05. Overally, majority of special needs students in current study have very poor IQ score. Further explanation are discussed on the paper.

Support for learning goes beyond academic support: Voices of students with Asperger's disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the experiences of support at school among young adults with Asperger's disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and also to examine what support they, in retrospect, described as influencing learning. Purposive sampling was used to enroll participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 young adults aged between 20 and 29 years. A qualitative analysis, based on interpreting people's experiences, was conducted by grouping and searching for patterns in data. The findings indicate that the participants experienced difficulties at school that included academic, social, and emotional conditions, all of which could influence learning. Support for learning included small groups, individualized teaching methods, teachers who cared, and practical and emotional support. These clusters together confirm the overall understanding that support for learning aligns academic and psychosocial support. In conclusion, academic support combined with psychosocial support at school seems to be crucial for learning among students with Asperger's disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Progress in reading and spelling of dyslexic children is not affected by executive functioning.

Although poor reading and spelling skills have been associated with weak skills of executive functioning (EF), its role in literacy is not undisputed. Because EF has different theoretical underpinnings, methods of analysis and of assessing, it has led to varying and often contrasting results in its effects in children with dyslexia. The present study has two goals. The first goal is to establish the relationship between a large number of EF tasks and reading and spelling skills in a large number of Dutch dyslexic children (n = 229). More interesting, however, is the second aim. To what extent do EF skills predict progress in reading and spelling in dyslexic children who attended a remediation programme? The results revealed small, but significant relationships between EF and reading and spelling skills, but no relationships between EF and progress in reading and spelling. It is concluded that training EF skills is unlikely to enhance reading and spelling skills.

Atitudes parentais em relação à educação inclusiva / Parental attitudes toward inclusive education

Com o objetivo de descrever as atitudes parentais em relação à inclusão escolar, 445 pais de alunos de primeira à quarta série do ensino fundamental de duas escolas municipais da cidade de São Paulo, responderam um questionário e uma escala de atitudes tipo Likert denominada Inventário Geral de Atitudes quanto à Educação Inclusiva (IGAEI). Participaram do estudo 169 (37,98 por cento) pais de alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais em processo de inclusão (G1) e 276 (62,02 por cento) progenitores de discentes que, de acordo com as instituições, não possuíam tal característica (G2). Os instrumentos foram aplicados coletivamente em reunião de pais e mestres com resposta individual. Os resultados obtidos revelam que ambos os grupos de pais tendiam a possuir atitudes favoráveis em relação à educação inclusiva. Porém, as atitudes dos pais de estudantes com necessidades educacionais especiais eram mais favoráveis à inclusão. São apresentados, ainda, resultados referentes a outras variáveis pesquisadas, como, por exemplo, tipos de necessidades educacionais em processo de inclusão. O estudo tende a corroborar resultados obtidos em pesquisas realizadas em outros países, ainda que algumas discrepâncias tenham sido percebidas. Conclui-se enfatizando a necessidade de mais pesquisas sobre o tema no contexto brasileiro e ressaltando a importância dos pais no desenvolvimento de sistemas educacionais inclusivos.

In order to describe parental attitudes toward school inclusion, 445 parents of elementary school students from first to fourth grade of two municipal schools of the city of São Paulo answered a questionnaire and the Likert scale General Inventory of Attitudes toward Inclusive Education (IGAEI) for assessing attitudes. The participants were 169 (37,98 percent) parents of students with special educational needs included in regular schools (G1) and 276 (62,02 percent) parents of students the school directors said did not have special needs (G2). The instruments were collectively applied during a parent teacher meeting using individual answer sheets. The results showed that both groups of parents tended to have positive attitudes in relation to inclusive education. However, parents of special educational needs students' attitudes were more positive. Results referring to other researched variables, i.e. types of special educational needs in inclusion process, are also presented. This study tends to corroborate research results from other countries, though some discrepancies have been perceived. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of parental involvement in the development of inclusive educational systems and suggests that more research is required in the Brazilian educational context.