Summer School - Science teaching

It is day 4 and the keynote is Bob Conway who is speaking in a most informative and entertaining way on the topic of Catering for diversity in science.  His presentation succinctly brings together many of the key messages that I have met before over many years of professional development. It makes me realise how privileged I have been in having spent 5 years at Claremont College, the national work where I was immersed in school to work issues for

Criteria of a positively diverse classroom

1. Substantial student-teacher interaction - being asked questions, responding, receiving feedback
2. Opportunity to respond - critically to being involved and included, non-responding can lead to potential behaviour problems
3. Academically engaged time (often only about 20% of the time) - meaningful engagement with learning tasks (high achievers > 85%, low achievers < 40%), relevant curriculum - skills, processes, content for now and the future taught and assessed within the official framework

Clearly some students need additional support.

What it takes to make a difference

• expecting, anticipating and planning for the diversity in classrooms
• continuing to assess students’ level of understanding and performance
• providing activities at the students’ level
• making activities relevant and interesting to the learner
• varying the amount of instruction and practice with the needs of the individual
• having knowledge of a wide range of instructional strategies and the know-how to match them to the nature of the student
• being flexible with class routines
• it is not the nature or severity of the students’ diverse learning needs
• not the facilities or particular resources associrated with different school settings

Relevant Reading

Conway, R .N. F. (2008).  Adapting curriculum, teaching and learning. In P. Foreman (Ed). Inclusion in action (pp. 95-163). Sydney: Thomson.

Websites for diversity

www.itscotland.org.uk/inclusiveeducation - excellent resourcs on inclusion

www.harmony.gov.au - multicultural activities for schools

www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion - groups of unis websites on inclusionfor trainee teachers, schools and parents

www.diverseschools.com  - USA based information on equality, gender, parent involvement