Transcript Student/Faculty Research Day - University of Wisconsin System

Using Journaling to Increase Disability
Awareness for Pre-Service Teachers
Angela Dalhoe  Special Education  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Background and Brainstorming
 Based on my experience, many pre-service teachers have a limited
understanding in the area of disability. This can affect how they accommodate
students with disabilities in their classrooms.
 Considering the courses I teach at UWEC, I needed to determine which class
would benefit the most from an intervention related to disability awareness.
o I selected SPED 300 – Inclusive Practices for Secondary Educators
This course represents UWEC’s only required content for pre-service secondary
teachers (licensure in grades 6-12).
Most of the students in this class were one or two semesters away from completing their
student teaching experience.
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Final Research Decision
 After brainstorming, I decided to use a survey to establish the level of disability
awareness for pre-service teachers in SPED 300. I hoped to determine if the
intervention (journaling) would increase their awareness and/or change
perceptions related to individuals with disabilities.
Methods
 Divided the class into two groups (Journaling and Definition Reflection)
 Developed a Pre/Post Awareness Survey
o Based on (with permission) the Baseline Survey on Public Attitudes Towards Persons
with a Disability Report – Equal Opportunities Commission – Hong Kong
o The survey was administered online via D2L during the second and final week of
course content – Results remained confidential to everyone but the researcher
 Developed Prompts for the Journaling and Definition Reflection Assignments
o Used to guide the responses – both groups focused on a specific disability for each
submission
IDEA Categories: Learning Disability (LD), Mental Retardation (MR), Emotional –
Behavioral Disturbance (EBD), and Autism
Other Categories: Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder and Physical Impairments
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Implications and Future Plans
 The course content (rather than the intervention) appears to have aided in
increasing disability awareness.
 I will consider adding both journaling and definition reflections as additional
course assignments.
 Each semester, I plan to implement the pre/post awareness survey as part of
the established course content.
o I will discuss results with the class during our final meeting.
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Use the Wordle to show growth in understanding and acceptance.
o Results could be used to guide curriculum decisions for both SPED 300 as well as other
Special Education courses.
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank the University of Wisconsin System – OPID for supporting me as a Wisconsin Teaching Fellow
Findings
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Definition Reflections
 Teachers need to keep in mind that mental retardation does
not mean impossible; it means that students need more
support to reach their potential…
 I have learned that EBD should be taken seriously, but not
personally and that needs to be part of the definition…
 Physical disabilities cannot be defined in the broader scheme
of things…you have to know the individual and adjust your
expectations of the definition accordingly…
 Students with LD have average intelligence. They need to be
treated that way...
 Know your students with EBD and you will have a better
understanding for the definition. The definition only defines, it
does not provide their background…
 If you are working with a student who has autism, try to rewire
your thought system and put yourself in their idea of what is
real or what is important. That will make the definition more
relevant…
Journaling
 Seeing the lack of access in the library makes me think about
how difficult it would be to….
 I wonder if my bio class would allow accommodations for
testing when there are special materials…
 People at the coffee place were so rude and I think that it would
be challenging for someone with an impulse/behavior issue to
handle it appropriately…
 I saw a man in a wheel chair loading his groceries. I never
realized how much longer daily activities must take for people
with these disabilities…
 There was a little boy with Down Syndrome (I think) in the
restaurant last night. I never noticed how much other people
stare. Thinking about it, I guess I do too. Is that bad?....
 The need to read is everywhere…I am concerned that it would
be a barrier for people with significant delays in reading….