本文介紹學校一間嚴重弱智學校在2001-2001年度參加教育署課程發展處的種籽計劃的過程。文中依序說明學校背景、教室經營的情況與學校過去的課程發展經歷，再敘說此次以三項共通能力，即批判思考能力、溝通能力與創造能力做為基礎所達致的成果；不但提昇及豐富了學校課程內容的素質，亦給予學校教職員一個寶貴的學習經驗。
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要裝備學生面對未來的世界，培養學生成為獨立的閱讀者以達致學會學習是教師非常重要的任務。對於在學習上有特殊教育需要的學生，常規的課堂未必能滿足他們的學習需要，本文展示一個結合元認知和動機理論的認知策略教學方案，倡議學校考慮採納針對性的閱讀策略輔導教學課，以交互教學法結合明確和直接的教學方式教授學生認知策略，讓學生於小學階段即能從小組互動的成功經驗中，建立自信、成為積極的讀者、享受從閱讀中學習的樂趣。 To prepare today's students to face tomorrow's challenge, one of teachers' crucial tasks is to help the students to develop a habit of reading independently aiming at learning to learn. For the students with special educational needs, regular classes may not satisfy their needs. This article aims to share a remedial teaching program design that combines metacognition and motivation theories and encourages schools to use remedial classes that specifically designed for teaching reading strategies for students who are weak in reading. By using reciprocal teaching with explicit and direct teaching of cognitive strategies, primary students are able to experience success via group interaction, to develop their self-confidence, to become active readers and to enjoy reading to learn as early as possible.
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本文從台灣特殊教育立法的進程和內容,反思現行香港特殊教育立法的情況,並獲得以下九項啟示:1.儘快訂定特殊教育立法的時間表;2.加深及擴展特殊教育立法的層次;3.列明有關特殊教育的具體條文;4.增加特殊教育的經費,並列明特殊教育經費的比率;5.明訂特殊教育教師的任用資格及聘用流程;6.重新檢視及列明特殊學生鑑定和安置的內容;7.延伸及擴展特殊教育的服務對象;8.訂立罰則及特殊教育的申訴機制;9.加入本地特殊教育發展的具體條文。This paper reviews the process and contents of the legislation of special education in Taiwan and discusses its implications on the current legislation situation for special education in Hong Kong. The review reveals the need for nine actions. 1. To set up a time table for the legislation of special education in Hong Kong as soon as possible 2. To refine and expand the levels of legislation 3. To list out the specific clauses of legislation 4. To increase funding for special education and list out the ratio of funding5. To clearly lay down the employment qualifications of special education teachers and the recruitment procedure 6. To review and lay out the details for the identification, and placement of students with special educational needs 7. To extend and expand the service targets for special education 8. To set up terms of penalty and a complaint mechanism for special education and 9. To add specific clauses for the development of special education in Hong Kong.
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本文透過個案,探討一種教師協作模式-課堂學習研究 (Learning Study) 的實踐共同體 (Community of practice)-如何協助老師解決智障學生學習數學所遇到的困難,從而提升課堂教學的成效。研究發現,課堂學習研究模式,使教師能透過前測及訪談,更具體掌握學習難點及教學焦點,而透過備課、觀課與修訂的教學循環能使教法更殝完善。實踐共同體的安排可使來自不同學校的教師進行跨校協作,有助特殊學校的教師提升教學技巧,並一同創造教學知識。本文建議此種模式可以推廣作為特殊教育老師一種持續專業發展的模式。This paper investigates the extent of a teacher collaborative model, Learning Study, in realizing the Community of Practice in special schools through a case study which helps teachers solve the learning problems of the mentally disabled students in the subject of Mathematics so as to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness. The findings indicate that the Learning Study approach enables teachers identify the learning difficulties and the teaching focal points from the pre-test and pre-lesson student interviews. During the co-planning, lesson observation and revising process of the teaching cycles, the pedagogies are further improved. The cross-school collaboration of the Community of Practice is able to help teachers in special schools enhance their pedagogical skills and create new instructional knowledge. This paper suggests that the collaborative model of Learning Study could be promoted as an approach for the continuing professional development of teachers in special schools.
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近年,接受本港融合教育的中小學自閉症譜系障礙學生的數目不斷急速增加。因此,老師們的專業培訓需要提供支援自閉症譜系障礙學生的教學及調適策略。本文建議按學業成績水平(優秀、中等及落後)及性格特質(衝動型、合作型及敏感型)將高功能自閉症譜系障礙融合學生的表現歸納為九種行為類型,相信透過這個行為類型的新概念可以讓老師們更具體地認識自閉症行為的獨特性及能提升教學效能。本文也倡議用「優勢模式」發掘自閉症譜系障礙融合學生的潛質和天份,期望老師們可以推動每位自閉症融合學生在人生的舞台上綻發光芒。Over the years, high and rapid growing numbers of primary and secondary students with autism spectrum disorder are studying in inclusive classrooms. To respond to this trend, teacher professional development programs need to include the curriculum content of effective learning-teaching and accommodations to support learner diversity. The present paper attempts to discuss the autism subtypes, using academic performance (above average, average, below average) and personality attribute (impulsive, cooperative, sensitive) as the two main parameters. It is expected that this new concept of autism subtypes can support teachers to have good understanding of autism behavior as well as to enhance efficacy for inclusive practice. The application of strength-based approach is also advocated here to encourage teachers to support students on the spectrum to explore their talents. The implication of this approach is that all individual on the spectrum can live in a very fruitful life.
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In 1997, the two-year pioneer project on inclusive education for students with disabilities was implemented. The peer ambassador programs aiming at creating more opportunities for students with and without disabilities to interact with each other were also launched at that time. The aim of this study was to examine the experience of the peer ambassadors from an insider's perspective. A convenient sample of 23 peer ambassadors from 6 secondary and 17 primary schools participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method and content analysis. The findings suggested that the roles of peer ambassadors included friend, academic tutor and Big-Brother-Big-Sister. All participants had very positive feelings in the process of helping others. Three quarters of the participants reported that they had development in the areas of personal qualities and interpersonal skills. All of them received support from the resource teachers, but their participation was affected by the attitude of peers and family. They also indicated that they needed support in handing the challenging behavior of classmates with disabilities. A mutual helping relationship was found between students with and without disabilities in the inclusive schools and the peer ambassadors also had personal development through the helping process. Strategies for program improvement are suggested to encourage students with and without disabilities to learn together.
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The development of inclusive education practices have led to worldwide discussion of how best to deliver a more equal education apportunity for all. In Hong Kong this has led to the development of the concept of an inclusive curriculum for special schools. This paper looks at the implications of writing an inclusive curriculum that has common curriculum content for all pupils that is based on the State curriculum. Over a four year period, nine special schools for pupils of different designated disability collectively pooled their resources to work for one common curriculum goal. In doing so they discovered that the biggest challenge was to the teacher's hearts and minds. Over 130 teachers were involved in the project. It required a significant paradigm shift in the way the teachers thought both about what they taught and how they taught. It required a common team effort within and across each school. It was apparent that providing equal opportunity to raise standards of education for the all the pupils required the recognition that every teacher had to change their way of thinking, every teacher matters. 全納教育的發展及實踐已引發了全球性的討論，討論焦點為如何為所有學生提供平等教育機會的最佳方法。在香港，一個全納課程的概念正在特殊學校中發展。本文檢視這一套以中央課程為本及以課程內容適合所有學生的原則下發展的全納課程範式及其所涉及的問題。過去四年，九間收納不同弱能類別學生的特殊學校匯聚他們的資源，致力為達致同一課程目標工作。過程中，最大的挑戰來自教師的心能及熱誠。超過130位教師參與這個計劃。這計劃涉及一個重要的範式轉移，教師需要就教學內容及教學方法重新思考。這計劃亦需要學校共同努力。計劃顯示要達到為所有學生提供平等機會及提升教育水平的目的，每一位教師都需要改變他的思維方式︰一位教師都也不能少！
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This paper looks at the evolving trend of government influence on schools and education across the world, and asks what is happening in Hong Kong in both mainstream and special education. Recent evidence would suggest that in many countries governments are starting to question the efficacy of current policies and practices. The challenge is for the Hong Kong government to reduce its quasi influence, and for teachers to begin to self-examine the efficacy of their teaching practices in terms of meeting the needs of each and every student in their classroom. There appears to be a conflict of interest between the needs of the state and the needs of the classroom. If teachers were to be given more responsib1ility for the learning progress of each student, rather than simply the overall progress of groups of students, current pedagogical practices would require a major paradigm shift. 本文就全球不斷進展的趨勢,檢視各國政府政策對學校及教育的影響,並探討香港主流教育與特殊教育的現況。最新資料顯示,不少國家的政府已開始懐疑現行政策及實踐的成效,香港政府要面對的挑戰,是如何減少它在形式上的影響及如何令老師開始自我審視在處理個別學生需要教學方法的效益。事實上,國家所認同的需要與課堂裹所期望的需要,像各有分歧。作者指出,如果老師要為每一個學生學習進展負責而不是為一群學生的整體進步為目標,則現行的教學實踐需經歷一次重大的範式轉移。
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Challenges to equal educational opportunities for all students still exist in many places across different societies in times of increasingly diverse student populations in schools. Not only students with different learning abilities but also those from different social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds have diverse learning needs. We argue that inclusive education should take a broader perspective regarding students of difference and/or difficulty,while principals play out important leadership roles for equal educational opportunity in schools. This paper aims to examine two principal leadership approaches to practices for the diversity of student populations. By conducting a cross-case study, the principals cultivated an inclusive and multicultural school environment for the students. The findings show that the principals turned their schools around by adopting similar and different leadership practices. Hence, they can transform the schools towards more inclusion for students of differences and difficulties. 隨著學校學生的差異性不斷擴大,在不同地方為所有學生提供平等教育機會仍然面對各樣挑戰。主要除了學習能力的差異,亦可能因來自不同社會、文化及種族背景,學生的學習需要變得更複雜。我們認為校長在平等教育機會中擔任重要的領導角色,而融合教育應以更全面的觀點去應對學生的學習差異與困難。這篇文章以跨個案研究分析兩位校長在面對學生複雜和差異的學習需要時的領導方式,為學生的學習提供一個共融及多元文化的校園環境。研究結果顯示兩位校長實踐相似但不相同的領導方式促使學校轉型,他們帶領學校發展成為更能接納學生差異與困難的共融校園。
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The work reported here grew out of an on-going investigation of the essential competencies required by teachers working in special schools in Hong Kong (Westwood & Wong, 2003). The earlier study explored the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that teachers in special schools are required to apply in their daily work with students with disabilities. This brief report addresses a slightly different question — namely, the areas of knowledge and skill in which teachers feel they require additional training and development. A total of 76 teachers in special schools responded to an open-ended request for information on this matter. Results indicate that teachers mainly require additional practical advice on teaching strategies, managing the behaviour of students with disabilities, and adapting curriculum to meet the students' needs. The teachers aslo perceived a need for additional information and skills in collaborative teamwork, and in acquiring an understanding of various therapeutic approaches deemed useful in special schools. The paper links the results of the survey with recent and proposed changes within the education system in Hong Kong.
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