CREATIVE METHODS IN SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION - COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction

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This course is aimed at teachers and school staff from pre-school level to primary, secondary, vocational, adult and special needs education, staff of non-government organizations, government and policy makers and company staff as well as students and all those who are interested in integration and inclusion and the use of creative, artistic and game based methods in special needs education. Participants are expected to have at least B1 level of English proficiency.

Methodology

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Methodology is based on theoretical lessons and presentations of examples of good practice as well as discussions and experience comparisons. The course will focus on social, art and game based activities which enhance development of support factors. Some other tools used will consist of project work, role play, simulations, laboratory practice, reflection and evaluation.

Objectives

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• Understanding of theoretical background of special needs education.

• Understanding how social, art and game based activities can enhance the development of support factors.

• Identification and understanding of risks, factors and barriers for integration and inclusion.

• Developing communication, collaboration, presentation, problem solving, negotiation, critical and creative thinking skills.

• Learning student-centered approaches in special needs education context such as task based learning and problem based learning within a fictional context of process drama.

• Enhancing understanding of the potential simulations and role play have for integration, inclusion and learning in special needs education.

• Providing and exercising creative ideas and practical resources for successful implementation of creative methods in special needs education in different settings

• Improving English fluency (official language of the course).

• Promoting intercultural awareness.

• Sharing experiences of special needs education from different organizations in order to help each of us to be more effective in our work.

• Developing the online collaboration platform for preparation, dissemination and networking in order to develop future partnerships and projects.

• Strengthening the European collaboration among people involved in special needs education and practicing creative methods in different contexts.

• Providing insights into different education systems.

Preparation

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After registration participants will receive pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the trainer to learn about participants’ teaching backgrounds and to assess their exact needs. Before the beginning of the course a basic reading list will be suggested to participants to prepare for the training. Participants will also be asked to publish a presentation about themselves, their professional context and their culture. The presentation will be available on the virtual collaboration platform. It will be used during the first meeting, but it will also be available online to the other participants so that they can have a preliminary knowledge of the group they are going to be part of. Participants will receive information about the country they are going to visit in order to prepare them for their cultural experience.

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Follow up

After the course participants will be asked to share what they have learned with the rest of the staff in their schools. Since they will all join the virtual collaboration platform they will be able to further discuss and deepen the understanding of the themes of this course and therefore keep on learning. Moreover, they will be encouraged to share materials showing how they are using what they have learned in their everyday work in terms of ideas, photos, videos, lesson plans, assessment and self-assessment forms, etc. creating an open educational resource available to everyone else from the group. Thanks to the virtual collaboration platform they will all be networked which will provide greater opportunities to develop future partnerships and projects. Further books and articles to deepen the topic and contacts with some other practitioners all over Europe and in the world will be suggested by the trainer. The methods shared and explored and the bibliography given will allow the participants to complete and improve their educational path.

Certificate

Each participant will get a course attendance certificate and the Europass Mobility Document.

Paperwork

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We also provide all the support with paperwork you might need for your Erasmus+ project documentation such as mobility agreement and regsitration letter.