Summary EDMHODR Chapt 3 Study Notes: Educator as Mediator of Learning

Educator as a Mediator of Learning Study Notes



3. Overcoming Barriers to Learning through Mediaton

*inclusive classroom: learners with diferent needs and abilites grouped together

New Policies
South African White Paper No 6 (2001) Special Needs Educaton: Building an Inclusive Educaton and
Training System
= learners with learning impairments and special needs should not be separate from other learners
but supported in main stream schools


Mainstreaming Inclusion
Get all learnings to ft into existng system Recognising and respectng diferences and
building on similarites
Giving some learners support to ft into Learners, educators and system supported to
“normal” class routne (specialists prescribe meet all learning needs (focus on teaching
interventons) and learning strategies that beneft all)
Focus on changing learners to ft in Focus on overcoming barriers in the system
and adaptng to support


= moving away from individual defcit approach and medical model

Barriers to Learning
 Aim is not “integraton” but restructuring schools to respond to needs of all children
 All learners can achieve success provided the right support

1. Pedagogical
a. Inappropriate/unfair assessment procedures
b. Inflexible curriculum
c. Learning styles
d. LOTL
e. Management and organisaton of classroom
2. Medical
a. Cognitve disabilites and intellectual disabilites
b. Hearing/visual loss
c. Chronic illnesses
d. Learning disabilites, atenton and memory problems
e. Physical disabilites, HIV, Cancer
3. Societal
a. Poverty, gangs, violence at home and in neighbourhoods
b. HL difers from LOTL
c. Abuse, crime, teenage pregnancy
d. Natural disasters and epidemics
e. Gender issues (cultural and societal)

, 4. Systematc
a. Lack of basic and appropriate learning and teaching support materials
b. Lack of assistve devices
c. Inadequate facilites in schools
d. Overcrowded classrooms
e. Lack of mother tongue educators

Socio-Economic Factors
 Hungry, frightened abused learners unlikely to learn or be able to do homework
 Where possible, social welfare should be approached for help
 Wealth communites may also have problems of too much sugar or money = ill health and
access to drugs
 Poor communites = lack of resources (libraries), cognitve stmulaton and safety
 Some learners work to support family or help at home

 To Support:
 Important to mediate feelings of competence and focus on goal-seeking, setng and
achieving behaviour
 Support by
 Improving reading skills
 Teach study techniques
 Keep learner’s experience, background, needs and expectatons in mind



Medical Factors

 Visual Impairment
o Speak in normal voice (note tone, clarity and respect)
o Speak to learner and parent about needs (e.g.: enlarged nets, tape recorders, extra
tme for reading etc.)
o Mediate by:
 Describe all actvites
 Allowing extra tme
o Support by:
 Ensuring teaching mostly verbal
 Make use of audio tapes
 Enlarge reading material
 Use special books and equipment
 Supply background informaton
 Ensure learner’s physical safety
 Acknowledge achievement
 Ask for help
o Assessing
 More tme to complete
 Verbal questons (can be pre-recorded)
 Enlarge questons