TEDI 3 Week 1 - Creating an Inclusive Classroom

Verhoef, Suna

TEDI 3 Week 1 - Creating an Inclusive Classroom

MOOC

2019-06-01

Abstract

In this video, Suna Verhoef, an educator at a school for visually-impaired children in Worcester, South Africa, discusses how to make classrooms inclusive of learners with visual impairments. She stresses the importance of immediate action to include learners with visual impairments in classroom teaching, and discusses the importance of attitude, awareness and adopting a growth mindset in preparing teachers to allow them to support children in their learning. She discusses the importance of connecting with the children in the classroom, to develop strategies and plans to include them in the curriculum. She also discusses the importance of discussing empathy and kindness with the sighted learners in the classroom to encourage inclusion and collaborative learning. She then discusses how to prepare the classroom for inclusion, from controlling light levels and reducing glare and organising appropriate seating for learners with visual impairments. Lastly, she stresses the importance of flexibility and creativity in reorganising teaching and the teaching space to best incorporate all kinds of learners.