The compatibility of reform initiatives in inclusion and science education: Perceptions of science teachers

Su-Hsiang Chung, Purdue University

Abstract

The purposes of this investigation were to examine science teachers' instructional adaptations, testing and grading policies, as well as their perceptions toward inclusion. In addition, whether the perceptions and adaptations differ among three disability areas (learning disabilities, emotional handicaps, and mental handicaps), school level (elementary, middle, and high school), course content (life and physical science), instructional approach (textbook-oriented or activity-oriented), and other related variables was examined. Especially, the intention was to determine whether the two educational reform efforts (inclusion and excellence in science education) are compatible. In this study, 900 questionnaires were mailed to teachers in Indiana and 424 (47%) were returned. Due to incomplete or blank data, 38 (4%) responses were excluded. The final results were derived from a total of 386 respondents contributing to this investigation. The descriptive data indicated that teachers adapted their instruction moderately to accommodate students' special needs. In particular, these adaptations were made more frequently for students with mental handicaps (MH) or learning disabilities (LD), but less for students with emotional handicaps (EH). With respect to testing policies, less than half of the teachers (44.5%) used “same testing standards as regular students” for integrated LD students, while a majority of the teachers (57%) used such a policy for EH students. Unfortunately, considerably fewer teachers modified their grading policies for these two groups of students. In contrast, approximately two thirds of the teachers indicated that they used different testing or grading policies for MH students who were in the regular settings. Moreover, the results also showed that changes in classroom procedure did not occur much in the science teachers' classrooms. Perceptions of science teachers toward inclusion practices were somewhat mixed. Overall, teachers had neutral attitudes. Among the three groups of teachers, elementary teachers were most positive toward inclusion practices, while high school teachers least. The present investigation adds several new insights into the existing research that school level, science teaching approach, and science course content are associated with the likelihood of adaptation making behaviors of science teachers. With respect to instructional adaptations, variables such as special education coursework, workshops attended, gender, as well as years of teaching experience, were also found significantly associated with teachers' instructional adjustments. Teachers who were more likely to adjust their teaching instruction included those who taught life science, those who used hands-on activities as the major teaching method, those who took more courses in special education, and those who attended more mainstreaming-related workshops. On the contrary, teachers with more experience made fewer adaptations in their general science classrooms.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Scruggs, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Special education|Science education|Educational administration

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