Views of Schooling Held by Children Attending Schools for Pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties

There has been little research into the views of the consumers of the special education service‐‐the children themselves. Social legislation (e.g., the 1989 Children Act in the UK) has emphasised the importance of discovering the views of the child when planning provision. Similar proposals have been put forward in recent UK documents concerning educational provision (DFE, 1993). This paper reports data based on individual, semi‐structured interviews with 56 children (ages 9 to 11) attending schools for pupils with moderate learning difficulties (MLD/MlD). Interviews probed views about special and mainstream schools and pupils, and perceived reasons for transfer from mainstream to special school. Two areas (teachers as a liked aspect of special and mainstream schools, and problems handling playground relationships) point to key areas of concern for children with learning or intellectual difficulties. Overall, MLD school children were supportive of their special schools. This is discussed in relation to categorization theory.     

Developing a System of Inclusive Education for Pupils with Behavioural Difficulties

Recent research into bullying in schools has focused upon the social context in which bullying commonly takes place and the roles taken by student bystanders observing the bullying. This article describes a methodology that has been developed, employing a video presentation and a related questionnaire, and applied in a number of countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, England, Israel, Italy and South Africa. This approach was utilized to examine reported bystander behaviour of schoolchildren witnessing bullying at school and to identify factors that may account for positive and negative responses of bystanders in both upper primary and lower secondary levels of schooling.     

The Internet: a New Frontier for Pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties?

David Banes, Headteacher, and Richard Walter, IT co-ordinator, describe ways in which the Internet has been used by a group of pupils with complex needs at Meldreth Manor school. The rationale, some teaching techniques and methods of evaluating the experiment are discussed, and a range of issues requiring further investigation are identified.     

Personal,Social and Educational Adjustments of Physically Disabled Pupils in Ordinary Schools

The reading and number attainments of twenty‐four physically disabled pupils were considered, together with an analysis of their classroom work; pupils’ views of their own personal, emotional and social adjustment were also sought and classroom teachers were asked to comment on pupils’ affective and cognitive development. Measures of teachers’ familiarity with and knowledge of physical disability, and their views concerning the helpfulness of other professionals were collated. In general, evidence supports the effectiveness of classroom teaching with respect to reading but some doubts emerge concerning number work. Teachers’ positive outlooks regarding their pupils contrast with their negative evaluation of external support services.     

浅谈小学生识字兴趣的培养

在识字教学中,教师要注意结合小学生的心理特点,以灵活新颖的形式,培养学生的识字兴趣,完成识字教学任务。     

The Gender Mix Among Staff in Schools for Pupils with Severe and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties and its Impact

Phil Goss has extensive experience as a practitioner and manager in schools for pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties. In this article, he reports on his enquiries into the gender mix among staff in these schools. He finds that there are significantly more women than men working as teachers and in support roles in these specialist contexts. Phil Goss goes on to discuss the outcomes of his research into headteachers' perceptions of the impact of this gender imbalance. In concluding, he makes a series of proposals for future policy on recruitment and staff development, for teachers and teaching assistants. Phil Goss argues that we need to find ways to bring more men into this work.     

Teachers' Views on the Curriculum for Severe Learning Difficulties

Teachers interviewed in special schools 'did not feel they were provided with clear guidance on curriculum' and appeared to get little advice from other professionals except physiotherapists and speech therapists. Nigel Carden, teacher at Wedgewood School, Bradford, previously psychologist at Anson House Pre-school Project, and Professor Colin Robson, Huddersfield Polytechnic, report their findings     

Developing Curriculum Leadership in Schools: Hong Kong perspectives

This study is designed to investigate the impact of school‐based curriculum development teams on teacher development within the tradition of school‐based curriculum development in a primary school in Hong Kong. Teacher interviews were used to evaluate the extent that teacher engagement in curriculum decision‐making processes within two school‐based curriculum development teams has led to teacher professional development which were triangulated with the videotaped meetings and tryout lessons. Qualitative evidence has revealed positively that participating teachers have developed themselves professionally through the process of planning, experimenting and reflecting (PER model) upon curriculum practice and innovation under certain conditions. However, the complexity of the structures and processes that were established for involving teachers in curriculum decision‐making processes needs further empirical and theoretical work. This paper only looks at data relating to teacher development in curriculum leadership collected in the second action cycle of the project from January to June 2005.     

Bridging the Communication Gap (for Pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties)

Tina Detheridge, a Senior Lecturer at Westminster College, Oxford, suggests that, by using information technology, some pupils are able to generate unambiguous signals which, used in social contexts, stimulated interaction and enhanced communication. The work undertaken further highlighted criteria for the successful use of IT in such contexts.     

Continuities and Developments in Research into the Education of Pupils with Learning Difficulties

This paper surveys a sample of current research into the education of pupils with learning difficulties. Examples of the three major established research traditions are discussed, namely the psycho-medical, organisational and sociological traditions. It is argued that much of this work seeks to extend the theoretical framework associated with one or another of these traditions, but fails to overcome the common limitation of reductionism. An emerging current of work is identified which adopts an anti-reductionist perspective. The characteristics of the new approach are illustrated, and a specific need for further search within this framework, focusing on the dynamics of the school development process, is identified.     

Target Setting in Schools for Children with Severe Learning Difficulties: Headteachers' Perceptions

Dawn Male, Lecturer in Psychology and Special Needs at the Institute of Education, University of London, reports on headteachers' perceptions of the advantages of target setting and their concerns about its implementation.     

普通高中学校课程管理存在问题及应对策略

学校课程管理是我国三级课程管理体制改革中重要的一环,牵涉到了学校管理系统中最核心、最复杂的问题。目前普通高中学校课程管理中存在管理意识淡薄、管理能力不足、管理机构僵化、资金短缺以及课程政策本身局限性等问题,致使学校课程管理的质量和效益难以得到保证。寻找普通高中学校课程管理的策略,可为学校课程管理实践提供帮助和指导。     

贵州高校篮球课程教学研究

在篮球课程教学中,根据学生和篮球项目的特点,运用组合法进行教学实验。结果表明,这种教学法体现了＂以人为本＂、＂和谐校园＂、＂学生为主＂的教育思想。学生开始变被动学习为主动学习,激发了学习的积极性,提高了实践能力和自信心,增强了团队精神,并且学生的身体素质、篮球技术水平也有较大幅度的提高。     

东乡族小学生汉语文学习困难调查研究

剖析了影响东乡族小学生汉语学习困难的各种困难，并在此基础上提出优化东乡族小学生汉语学习的教学策略和建设。     

The National Curriculum and Standards in Primary Schools: A comparative perspective

A comparison is made of the standards in primary school mathematics in England and Cyprus, drawing upon national curricula, content of textbooks and data from international comparisons of attainment. Standards are conceptualised in three ways: expected, planned and realised. It is demonstrated that high expected and high planned standards, as set in national curricula and textbooks, are not associated with high realised standards. Four possible explanations are explored and policy issues associated with national standard setting are discussed. The value of setting national curriculum standards and targets by reference to comparative international data is raised.     

Experience and Achievement: Initiatives in Curriculum Development for Pupils with Severe and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficuties

Richard Byers, education consultant and part-time lecturer at the University of Cambridge School of Education, challenges recent thinking on the teaching of subjects to pupils with learning difficulties. He emphasises that school-centred and innovative practices in curriculum development should be fully recognised and the role of experience and achievement thoroughly explored.     

高中历史素材性课程资源开发与利用的策略

素材性课程资源的开发与利用,是决定历史课堂教学有效性的关键问题之一。在现阶段深化高中历史课程改革的过程中,大力提升素材性课程资源的开发与利用效度,既是发展学生历史思维能力的客观要求,也是凸显历史教学本质的必由之路。具体的实施策略是:课本内容的宏观处理与微观分析、素材补充的史实解释与观点辨析、基于问题探究与主题研究的资源开发等。     

What Happens After the Age of 14? Mapping Transitions for Pupils with Profound and Complex Learning Difficulties

This article reports on part one of a three-part national survey of provision for pupils aged 14 and older, in England and Wales, who have profound and complex learning difficulties. The survey is part of the Enhancing the Quality of Life (EqoL), a three-year research project jointly awarded to Skill: the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, and the University of Cambridge School of Education. The aim of the project is to construct a framework for learning which will support improvements in the quality of life for these young people. It is funded by the National Lottery Charities Board.     

‘Thinking Schools, Learning Nations’ Implementation of Curriculum Review in Singapore

‘Thinking schools’ will be sites of learning for everyone declared the Singapore Prime Minister, Goh Chok and Minister of Education Teo Chee Hean’s in 1997 also spoke on the model of’ ‘thinking schools, learning nation’. Gardner’s model was used for the thinking school model in Singapore, in order to develop critical and creative thinking in students. This was to be done with the use of instructional technology as an enabling tool using a diversity of approaches including integrated project work. This paper reports on how one school went about changing approaches to teaching and learning by implementing integrated project work as a way of integrating the content areas of the curriculum, mathematics and science through English language, supported by the tools of instructional technology.