Educational Improvement

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Educational Improvement DiversityWhat Is The
Place Of Special Education?

• Robert A. Stodden, Ph.D.
• Director, Center on Disability Studies
• University of Hawaii At Manoa
• Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A
• International Keynote Address
• Australian Association of Special Education
• September 24, 2005
• Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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Caption Non-singing canaries have to take wood
shop
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Overview

• Why Educational Improvement?
• Place Of Special Education Improvement
• Questions To Be Asked
• Responding With Solutions
• What Does It Mean To You?

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Changing The World Around Us

• Changing demographics and needs
• Advancement of technology and information
• Lack of stability, transience
• Its all in how you ask the question

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You know the world has changed when
http//www.funpic.hu
1.55 for 1.25 L
1.52 for 1.25 L
your cars drink costs more than your own.
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Changing Educational Experiences

• Diversity of student needs
• Family community engagement
• Status of academic performance
• Status of failure, drop-out, non-participation

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Perseverance is key to school completion
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Role Of Education In Society

• Protects tradition knowledge
• Transfers knowledge to the young
• Contributes to society and community
• Develops productive individuals

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• Setting a clear course on learning expectations

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• We all need to keep our heads on straight!

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One Viking to the other Ive got it, too,
Omar A strange feeling like weve been going in
a circle
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Educational Reform Responses

• Add-On Syndrome
• Carmel Apple Effect
• Supplemental Activities

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Carmel Apple Effect
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Characteristics of Whole School Improvement
High Expectations
Common Direction
Performance Based
Focused Pathways
Teaching Learning
Funding Streams Procurement Guidelines
Personnel Structuring Roles, Responsibilities
Interactions
Personalization Small Learning Communities
Climate of Respect Responsibility
Supportive Accommodating
Inclusive
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Teaching Learning Core Decisions

• Content be learned (What)
• Methods to learn it (How)
• Timing of learning (When)
• Place of learning (Where)
• Reason for learning if (Why)
• Verifying it was learned

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Re-defining Learning

• Developing an awareness
• Investing in exploration
• Ensuring integration
• Demonstrating application

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Characteristics of Reform Models

• Accountability for outcomes
• academic performance
• post-school outcomes
• Knowing when outcomes are met
• benchmarking student progress
• clear expectations

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Characteristics of Reform Models (cont.)

• Diversification/differentiation of teaching
  learning variables
• Integrated curriculum approaches
• Project based learning models
• Small learning communities
• Personalized learning

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What Are The Questions for Special Educators?
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How Do We Respond To The Questions, Or Who Will
Teach Us To Swim?