The Charter for Inclusive Teaching and Learning

1. The Charter for Inclusive Teaching and Learning INNSBRUCK Ann Heelan Stephen Kennedy

2. A Socially Inclusive Institution • Higher education must accept that the implications of offering access to non-traditional students do not end, but rather begin, at the point of entry (Bamber and Tett 2001)

5. Why?: • Societal demands • Paradigm shift • Inputs to outputs: Bologna Process • Teaching to learning • Diversity in student population • Reduced funding

6. Resistance/Barriers • Attitude, the student is the problem • Lack of understanding • Fairness • “we don’t allow other normal student to use proof readers” • Responsibility • “ academic departments see it as the responsibility of the disability office”

7. Resistance /Barriers • Assumptions and beliefs about teaching • “academic identity” • Scholar • Researcher • subject • Impact of disability

8. Academic Culture • Teaching and learning methods • Academic Culture shock • Language • Teaching methods • Relationships/remoteness with staff • Numbers

11. Charter for Inclusive Teaching and Learning • Teaching • Learning • Assessment and examinations • Quality Assurance

12. Teaching Teaching is implemented in a manner that allows all students to fully take part in all activities and minimises the need for additional adjustments. Staff use information and communication technologies to meet the learning needs of students. • At a minimum: • The institution provides students with access to course materials, including on-line, before the lecture where possible, so students can fully engage with the lecture. • Staff use creative and innovative teaching methods and integrate, where required, the 7 principles of universal design. • Learning outcomes and assessment approaches are clearly stated for all student courses/programmes. • All academic staff teach in accessible formats. This may require some professional development in consultation with learning support and disability support services. • The institution provides training and support to staff to further develop expertise in teaching and learning.

13. 7 principles of universal design • Equitable Use • Flexibility • Simple and intuitive • Perceptible information • Tolerance for error • Low physical effort • Size and space

15. Classroom as the place of engagement • Active not Passive • Involvement and choice • Student centred learning • Meaningful activities • Understanding expected outcomes • Independent learning • Interaction with staff • Formative Feedback • Learner Autonomy Liz Thomas Edge Hill University

16. Learning Active learning is an integral part of all course provision. Standards of learning are improved through formative assessment and continuous feedback on performance. The curriculum is designed and delivered in a manner that respects that everyone learns in different ways and that learning outcomes can be achieved in many ways. At a minimum: • Study skills are a clearly articulated part of the curriculum for all students, including students with disabilities, and are expressed in course/programme as learning outcomes. • Students and staff make maximum use of timely, constructive and relevant feedback in the learning process, given that it is a key component of student achievement. • Students, for their part, engage as partners in the learning process.

17. Assessment and Examinations Assessment and examinations are student-centred, flexible, transparent and fair The assessment methodologies match the stated learning outcomes. • At a minimum: • The institution considers the most appropriate and balanced methods to assess learning outcomes. • When assessing students’ learning, whether through continuous assessment or end-of-year assessment, a range of approaches, where practical, are offered. • The institution offers a choice of assessment, thus reducing the need for reasonable accommodations. (This does not exclude reasonable accommodations identified in an assessment of need). • The institution provides clear information to students on the assessment methodologies used and the marking schemes employed. • The institution provides students with timely information on assessment, when and how, and in an accessible format. This also provides for any extraordinary accommodations to be put in place.

18. Choice of Assessment Methods • Empowers Students • Reduces the need for special accommodations

19. Choice • “The choice was good to have as some people don’t do well with just one final exam and are better suited to continuous assessment” Dr. Geraldine O’Neill, 2005 Student Centred Learning

20. Student voice • Seek feedback on teaching methods • Student Suggestion box • Ensure they understand the learning outcomes, what is expected of them

21. Quality Assurance Institutions have quality assurance procedures that capture the voice of all students including students with disabilities and those from other minority groups. At a minimum: • The inclusion of students with disabilities is embedded within existing quality assurance procedures, with a code of good practice to guide implementation. • Each institution captures the voice of the student with a disability and actively uses that voice to effect improvements.

22. Strategies for Implementation Institutional change needed Student engagement Assumptions and perceptions Top down and bottom up Importance of senior staff Visible enthusiasm Shared understanding of inclusion Act as a role model

23. Contd.. • TIC Principles ( Trinity College) • Think beyond disability – good for all students • Buy in from senior staff • Be a resource to teaching staff • Take a whole college approach • Provide tools and templates • Provide templates and checklists • include@tcd.ie

24. Question • What engages the student? • What positive teaching and learning initiatives include all students?

25. References • Improving student Retention in higher education, 2009, Liz Thomas Edge Hill University UK • O’Neill, g, McMahon t 2005 Student –Centred Learning: What does it mean • Rose and Shevlin 2010, Count me In, Ideas for actively engaging students in Inclusive Classroom • Include@tcd.ie

26. Thank You Ann.heelan@ahead.ie s.kennedy@ncirl.ie www.ahead.ie