Diversity: a case study of inclusive practices at a primary school in Barcelona.
Author(s):
Karla Abreu Alonso (presenting / submitting)
Conference:
ECER 2011
Format:
Poster

Session Information

ERG SES C 01, Interactive Poster Session C 01

Poster Session

Time:
2011-09-12
13:30-15:00
Room:
JK 29/118,G, 47
Chair:
Joana da Silveira Duarte
Discussant:
Fiona Hallett

Contribution

 

1.  Delimitation of the researched field

School inclusion is not a new topic in the world of educational research. There are quite a lot of theses, publications, research projects and all kinds of experiences around this phenomenon.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate, analyze and discuss inclusive practices carried out in a given primary center of Barcelona's public network.

In order To do this, it is important to take into consideration several questions:

• What is going on in the educational field?

• Where are children’s questions left when they enter the education system?

• Are we killing the ability to challenge in a world worth of being questioned?

• Where do we see reflected the inclusive education of which we speak?

• Do we know, as educators, how to enable true inclusion / integration of school?

However, as the term inclusive teaching practices can be very wide and can be treated from different perspectives, it seems significant to address the educational practices from a center that works within the dynamics of work projects for inclusion.

2. Identification and specification of the problem:

The interest in studying a school "choice" from Barcelona’s public schools with and integration, begins, with a meditation: features of inclusive practices

How a "preferred" school that works from the perspective of potential work projects / makes possible the inclusion / integration of students that suffer from conduct disorder?

In this regard, I seek to analyze and interpret educational practices from the perspective of integration, taking as a key element in this process dynamics from the perspective of work projects. This aspect highlights the relationship and dialogue as active elements in this process of engagement and mutual learning between teachers and students. According to Freire (2001):

 "[...], Dialogue is an existential requirement. And being this the meeting that both action and reflection, subjects are inducted to a world to be transformed and humanized, not being reduced to a mere act of depositing ideas from a subject to  another, neither become a mere change of permutantes that joins consummate their ideas."

                                                                                     (Freire, P., 2001:99)

In this sense, this research can be considered different from the others, as it not only emphasizes the idea of integration for integration, but also emphasizes the special educational needs related to educational practices that are directed to the process of inclusion and integration, as well as it respects the right to be students that can count on  a quality educational practice that relies upon the principles of listening, dialogue and mutual respect.

By the delimitation issue and the problem to investigate, the purpose of the research will analyze the educational practices that focus on the inclusion/integration of children at risk of social exclusion. To get to know this reality I have raised the objectives which are set out below.

3. General objective:

Analyze the educational actions (practices) to be adopted to provide an integration/inclusion, dignity and quality for children with SEN (conduct disorder).

 

Method

The research is proposed from the following aspects: • The school is seen as a possible bridge to integration; • school environment, family, teachers, management team; • The school as a place of co-existence and mutual and personal learning; Regarding the issues mentioned above, it seems possible to make an approach to the reality experienced by teachers in the school, because I think these experiences will provide a clear understanding that can contribute to the integration of pupils, thus, allowing to know a little of the cultural environment that, in a straightforward manner, will influence the inclusive teaching practices to be proposed to this school. Due to these factors, and taken the Ethnographic Case Study as a research methodology within the paradigm of complexity, is where I will fully be inside the process, far away from being an isolated researcher that ignores what happens. I need to enter the depths of analysis and also find myself in this process, because it is more comfortable to write from a narrative perspective. The study setting is a school "choice " of the public schools of the city of Barcelona.

Expected Outcomes

Through this research I hope to access the experiences of teachers, management team and students involved in this environment so that they become relevant in both performing data analysis, and discuss ideas and points that would be raised in this research. It is pertinent to say that general transformations are needed in today's schools, where teachers must rethink their practice and their positions, seeking new learning opportunities for students as well as adapting teaching strategies to work on the skills and the needs of everyone. Manta (2002). Therefore, I believe this study will provide a fresh look at SEN, because I intend to provide a reflection on the SEN which, for authors like Lopez Melero (2004), goes beyond physical or mental disabilities of creatures. This paradigm shift, believes that everyone’s limitations and educationas opportunities should be respected as well as academic and social integration need to be considered, even when showing some difficulties at the time, Special Educational Needs, which in turn can generate a conflict of learning.

References

Bisquerra, R. (coord.) (2004). Metodologia de la investigación educativa. Madrid: La Murralla. Freire, P. (2001). Pedagogía do oprimido. São Paulo: Editora Paz e Terra. Guba E. G (1985). The context of emergent paradigm research. En Y.S Lincoln y E.G Guba. Naturalistic Inquiry (pp.79-104). Beverly Hills California: Sage. Guba, E.G y Lincoln, Y.S. (1989). Fourth Generatión of Evaluation. San Francisco: Jossey Bass. Hernández, F. (2002). La importancia de ser reconocido como sujeto. En Cuadernos de Pedagogía, nº 319, Diciembre (2002), pp.28 – 32. Hernández, F., y Sancho, J. (2002). Desafío, Transgresión y riesgo. En cuadernos de pedagogía, nº 319, Diciembre (2002), pp.12-15. Latorre, A. (1996). Bases metodológicas de la investigación educativa. Barcelona: Hurtado Mantoan, M.T.E (2003). Inclusão escolar: O que é? Por quê’ Como fazer? São Paulo: Ed Moderna Stake, R.E. (1998). Investigación con estudio de casos. Madrid: Morata Van Manen, M (1998). El tacto en la enseñanza. El significado de la sensibilidad pedagógica. Barcelona: Paidós. Van Manen, M. (2003). Investigación educativa y experiencia vivida. Ciencia humana para una pedagogía de la acción y la sensibilidad. Barcelona: Idea Books Walter, R. (1985). Applied qualitative research. Londres: Coger. Wittrock, M. (1989). La investigación de la enseñanza, II. Métodos cualitativos y de observación. Barcelona: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia / Paidós Woods, P. (1987). La escuela por dentro. La etnografía en la investigación educativa. Barcelona : Paidós Yin, R. (1989). Case study research. Design and methods. Londres: Sage.

Author Information

Karla Abreu Alonso (presenting / submitting)
Universitat de Barcelona
DOE
Barcelona

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