Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description This module aims to provide a foundation in the key understandings and principles of inclusion and inclusive practice for the different contexts of special/additional educational needs and poverty, social inclusion in education Specifically, this module will focus on (a) inclusion of learners with special/additional educational needs and (b) poverty and social inclusion, with a view to developing student teachers’ understanding of the factors that underpin and influence the creation of inclusive environments for all children. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Critique legislation and policy in relation to the inclusion of students with a range of special/additional education needs to identify possibilities for and challenges to inclusion of these learners across the school system with reference to the role and responsibility of key stakeholders (e.g. schools/teachers/policy makers/other professionals etc). 2. Identify, discuss and critique key issues in relation to inclusion of learners with special/additional educational needs e.g. (a) Range of educational settings and curricula available for children and young people with S/AEN; (b) Implications for inclusive practice and changes in the education system; (c) life-span perspective for people with S/AEN. 3. Explain and critique the role of individualised planning in effectively enabling inclusion and construct an individualised plan using a case study. 4. To develop innovative thinking in order to reform the education system through conceptual skills to integrate theory, policy and practice for social inclusion in education and to be aware of the needs of the most marginalized in our society 5. To develop students’ potential as an agent of change with regard to strategic policy making concerning equality in education at the school level, local community level, regional and national levels, including awareness of the importance of a community development approach to relations between the school and local community 6. To analyse strengths and gaps of current initiatives seeking to address poverty and social inclusion in education, including to analyse European and Irish policy developments for early school leaving prevention and develop teachers’ capacity to relate to other professionals’ viewpoints | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Overview The strands and indicative content for module ED4013 are described below. The respective contexts of a) Special and Inclusive Education and b) Poverty and Social Inclusion in Education are distinct and discrete contexts. Throughout this module, explicit links will be made within and across both strands in order to address the learning outcomes identified previously. Additionally, efforts will be made to support students to connect the content of this module with learning across the BEd programme to maximise their awareness of the factors that influence the creation of inclusive learning environments for all children. Special and Inclusive Education (SIE) Legislation and Policy for Inclusion: Relevant legislation and policy (national and international) informing and governing practice relating to the inclusion of pupils with special/additional educational needs (SEN) in Irish schools. Curricular Inclusion: Analysis of the role of the curricula other than the Primary School Curriculum in terms of curricular inclusion of children with SEN e.g. Curriculum Guidelines for Pupils with General Learning Disabilities; Post-Primary programmes etc. Role of individualised planning in providing curricular inclusion for children with S/AEN. Use of Universal Design for Learning Life-span perspective i.e. parents/siblings, dual enrolment, transitions (pre-school / post-primary / adult opportunities and services) with reference to relevant legislation and policy. Current Issues: Examination of current issues impacting on policy and practice in schools in terms of inclusion e.g. role of NCSE; new legislation, policy, budgetary decisions; teaching children for whom English is an additional language; deaf education; and, so on. Case studies and input from guest speakerswill be used through which analysis of the issues raised above will be discussed and examined. Poverty and Social Inclusion The focus of this course is to provide insights for working in DEIS schools and the wider communities in which they are located. It includes analysis of the various schemes and services for such schools and communities, including a focus on policy and practice gaps for pupil supports. Students will be engaged in a range of understandings of key principles and frameworks for social inclusion in education and for early school leaving prevention based on both Irish and international research. Pedagogical Approach to Module Throughout the module, students are encouraged to (a) demonstrate constructions of meaning, (b) engage in interactive dialogue, and (c) map policy onto practice. Specifically, in relation to each context underpinning this module, teaching approaches are adopted to enable learning. SIE: Multiple perspectives are explored through individual guest speakers and panels who share their insights, experiences, knowledge and understanding of inclusion and exclusion in the context of school and the wider community and life-span journey. Students are invited to share their own experiences also. Students who have completed specialisms in the area are sometimes invited to present their work to their peers in this module. Student engagement in the large class is enhanced through the use of quizzes, Q&A boards, roving mics. Inclusive pedagogical strategies are modelled throughout e.g. eliciting prior knowledge; active learning in class through tasks, think-pair-share etc; use of UDL throughout including in terms of assignment choices; authentic assessment utilised to allow students to apply their understanding by writing for a specific audience. Poverty and Social Inclusion: This course takes place in plenary sessions only of 400+ students. A strong focus is maintained on interactive discussions, in the assessment on how each individual student can set out their distinctive role and contribution to development of this area in future as agents of change. Students are encouraged to critique current initiatives in this area, not only focused on DEIS schools, as part of promoting future leaders in this area. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles:
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Other Resources
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