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Critical International Perspectives on Special and Inclusive Education

Module description

This module looks in depth and with a critical perspective at the key concepts, theories, aims, values, and practices involved in special and inclusive education within a variety of international socio-political and historical contexts.  The concepts of inclusion, disability, difference and diversity will be examined and a range of sometimes contradictory perspectives will be introduced, questioning to what extent these perspectives can be reconciled or not.  Understandings and provision in relation to special and inclusive education in different countries will be considered. You will be encouraged to reflect upon the development of special and inclusive education systems in their own countries as well as considering a range of international and global perspectives.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of the module are to enable you to:

• critically examine the concepts of inclusion and special educational needs, their relationship to related concepts (e.g. disability, diversity, rights) and implications for the practices of inclusive and special education  within a variety of international and historical contexts;
• become aware of different and sometimes contradictory perspectives on inclusion and special educational needs, and related concepts, and to question to what extent these perspectives can be reconciled or not, problematising socio-political, economic and cultural barriers to the development of inclusive systems;
• explore different models of inclusion and specialised provision,  including legislative frameworks and provision in different countries,  and examine the relationships between the general education and specialised/separate systems for children and young people with disabilities and learning difficulties;
• critically examine historical processes in the international emergence of inclusion as a product of socio-political, economic, cultural and educational changes.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Identify, and demonstrate a critical understanding of key concepts that underpin understandings of inclusion and special educational needs (e.g. disability, difference, diversity, rights, capabilities)
• 2. compare and contrast different models of inclusive and special education provision and international comparative frameworks of inclusion
• 3. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of legislative frameworks and provision in relation to inclusive education systems internationally, as well as a critical awareness of socio-political, economic and cultural barriers to the development of inclusive systems
• 4. critically evaluate the similarities and differences between different stakeholder perspectives and evaluate the implications for research and practice

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. consider and critically engage with ideas concerning the relationship between the theory, research, policy and practice in inclusive and special education
• 6. compare and contrast different perspectives regarding the values and conceptions of inclusive and special education
• 7. critically reflect upon and evaluate your own (and others) understandings of current issues and debates regarding different models of inclusive and special education
• 8. problematise theoretical understandings and enacted practice in terms of disability/difference/special educational needs/inclusion

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. synthesise and organise ideas to present an argument, demonstrating critical and analytic thinking.
• 10. construct organised, structured, critically reflective and analytic writing
• 11. present ideas and engage in critical reflective debate
• 12. undertake both directed and independent study to recognise, justify and analyse key ideas in the literature and relate these to research, theory, policy and practice

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover the following topics:

• How understandings of special and inclusive education vary in different of international socio-political and historical contexts.
• Concepts of inclusion and special educational needs and the relationship with wider concepts such as rights, capabilities, diversity, disability, difference.
• Perceptions, models and images of ability and disability and implications for theory and practice.
• Historical perspectives – institutionalisation, civil rights and emerging concepts of SEN and inclusion internationally.
• Inclusion as a globalised project – problems of comparison.
• Policy and legislative systems, role of UNESCO, EU.
• Decision making in inclusive systems.
• Inclusion for all? Minorities, impacts and systems.
• Rights, interests and contributions of stakeholders – agency, participation, power.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

• Armstrong, A. C., Armstrong, D. and Spandagou, I. (2010) Inclusive Education, International Policy and Practice. London: Sage.
• Friedman, C. and Owen, A. L. (2017). Defining disability: Understandings of and attitudes towards ableism and disability. Disability Studies Quarterly, 37(1).
• Miles, S. and Singal, N. (2010) The Education for All and inclusive education debate: conflict, contradiction or opportunity?, International Journal of Inclusive Education, 14, (1): 1 -15.
• Norwich, B. (2013). Addressing tensions and dilemmas in inclusive education. London, Routledge.
• Peairson, S., Haynes, C., Johnson, C., Bergquist, C., & Krinhop, K. (2014). Education of Children with Disabilities: Voices from Around the World. Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk, 5(2), 7.
• Rix, J., Simmons, K., Nind, M. and Sheehy, K. (2005) Policy and power in inclusive education. London: RoutledgeFalmer/Open University.
• Thomas, G. and Vaughan, M. (2004) Inclusive education: readings and reflections. Maidenhead: OUP.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• UNESCO “Education for all”

http://en.unesco.org/gem-report/report/2015/education-all-2000-2015-achievements-and-challenges#sthash.VIElRR5v.dpbs 

• Enabling Education Network: http://www.eenet.org.uk/

Key words search

Inclusive education; special needs education; international perspectives; critical perspectives