ONLINE ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC:SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS

 INTRODUCTION

In day by day classroom teaching teachers earn many experiences and learn many things about the students. Schools are the place of learning and as well as teaching. Teacher has to face many challenges and while facing these challenges teachers learn many new things day by day.

Exceptional children are those who deviate significantly from the normal ones. An exceptional child deviates from the normal or average child in mental, physical and social characteristics to such an extent that he requires a modification of school practices or special education services or supplementary instruction in order to develop his maximum capacity. In educational science, the term is used to describe children on both the extremes of achievement in intellectual work either they are far above or below average in one or more aspects of education achievement. The disabled, disadvantaged, disturbed and the gifted children are exceptional children. Recently such children are called children with special needs.

Characteristics.

            The following are the important features of exceptional children.

·         They deviate markedly from the average children.

·         Their deviation from the average children so great that they can be easily distinguished from average children

·         This deviation may fall in any behaviour or developmental dimensions-physical intellectual, emotional or social.

·         These children experience peculiar problems and require modification of school practices, special education and other related services in order to maximize their functioning level.

Types of exceptional children.

            Exceptional children are of the following kinds.

1. Intellectually exceptional (Mentally).

            a. The gifted

b. The slow / backward.

            c. The creative.

            d. The fast.

            e. The mentally retarded.

            f. The under achievers.

            g. The learning disabled.

2. Physically exceptional.

3. Emotionally exceptional.

4. Socially exceptional.

5. Multi exceptional.

a). THE GIFTED CHILD.

                        A gifted child is one who shows consistently remarkable performance in any worthwhile line of endeavor. Such an individual exhibits superiority in general intelligence or possesses special abilities of a high order. Some psychologists have defined giftedness on the basis of intelligence quotient (IQ). Persons with an IQ higher than 140 can be considered as exceptionally gifted.  But, a child need not necessarily possess a very high IQ. A person who shows outstanding performance in other spheres of activity regardless of his average IQ or low scholastic achievements may also be termed as gifted. Those who show promise in creative writing, dramatic, mechanical skill, music, graphic art and social leadership are also included under gifted children.

Characteristics of Gifted Students.

1.      Extraordinary memory.

2.      Intellectual curiosity.

3.      Ability for abstract reasoning.

4.      Ability to apply knowledge.

5.      High creativity.

6.      Command of language.

7.      Active participation in science club activities.

8.      Habit of using leisure time for scientific hobbies.

9.      Interest in reading scientific literatures beyond the demand of school assignment.

10.  Voluntary participation in science fairs.

11.  Habit of willingly undertaking special science projects.

12.  Interest in visiting scientific institutions.

Identification of Gifted Children.

            The first step in the direction of planning special education for gifted children is to identify or separate them from the average children. The teacher can use following procedure for the identification of the gifted children.

1.      Group test for intelligence can be used for the preliminary screening. This is followed by the administration of individual test of intelligence and based on the scores obtained; the teacher can identify gifted children.

2.      A standardized achievement test / creativity test.

3.      School marks and cumulative records of pupil’s achievements.

4.      Aptitude tests, interest inventory, anecdotal records, opinions and reports of friends and teachers.

5.      The teacher on the basis of his observation in and outside the classroom.

Problems of Gifted Children.

1.      Problems arising from the frustration of special needs.

2.      Problems arising from the lack of understanding.

3.      Problems arising from undue attention and appreciation.

4.      Problems arising from non-challenging class work.

Education of Gifted Child

1.      Special Schools or Separate Schools.

It is often suggested that we must have separate schools for the gifted children with adequate facilities.

2.      Ability Grouping / Separate Classes.

In a heterogeneous group, there will be bright, dull and average students and usually the teacher proceeds at the pace of the average, which forms the majority. If pupils are grouped according to their ability all gifted students constitute a separate class or become homogeneous.

3.      Skipping / Double Promotions.

Skipping implies double promotion. If a child shows an extraordinary achievement in one class, he may be given a double promotion.

4.      Acceleration or Rapid advancement.

The gifted can promoted to and advanced grade at the end of half year. One disadvantage is that such a student may be otherwise immature as compared to his classmates.

5.      Enrichment programmes.

The inclusion of greater variety of learning experiences at a more advanced level of curricular content according to their abilities. This advancement may not be in academic content to be learn but also in co-curricular activities.

b).THE SLOW LEARNERS

A slow learner is a child who is unable to cope with the work normally expected of his age group. It is a term, people used to describe a student who has the ability to learn necessary academic skills, but at a rate and depth blow average same age peers. In orders to grasp new concept a slow learner needs more time, more repetition and often more resources from teachers to be successful. Reasoning skills are typically delayed, which makes new concepts difficult to learn. The IQ of slow learner usually ranges from 70 to 90. Their span of attention is relatively shorter.

There are a few problems for teachers to teach these students. There is limitation for time period and teacher feel difficulty to complete the syllabus and when he run fast the student feel problem in learning. In a group of slow learners teacher needs to maintain the speed of teaching and he has to adjust according to students. They need patience and regular monitoring.

New skills need to be based upon already mastered concepts. This will be difficult when majority of class has already mastered a concept and is moving on. This can lead to gaps in knowledge and basic skills. The more gaps in a content are, the more challenging it is for anyone to learn new concepts.

Characteristics.

            A slow learner shows the following.

1. Feels difficulty in keeping pace with the normal school work.

2. They are prone to anxiety.

3. His educational attainment fall below his natural abilities.

4. He falls for behind other children of his age in matter of study.

5. His span of attention and concentration are short and has short reaction time.

6. Has got limited power of self direction.

Causes.

1. Physical and Physiological factors.

            Majority of them suffer from some kind of developmental retardation like poor health, physical deformities, and chronic diseases. Physical ailments, bodily defects etc. Defective vision, faulty hearing, speech defects, left handedness make them handicapped.

1. Intellectual factors.

            Their low IQ is not only affected in terms of quick understanding, but suffers from emotional imbalance and social mal adjustment which impedes progress in school subjects.

2. Family factors:-

            Due to unhygienic conditions and malnutrition the health of these are adversely affected. It reduces their learning capacity.

3. School factors:-

            Factors like: - defective, uninteresting and ineffective teaching, lack of equipments, defective curriculum. Poor administration and indiscipline.

4. Social factors:-

Tools and Techniques to identify them,

1.      Achievement and Diagnostics tests.

2.      Intelligence test.

3.      Situational test and observation.

4.      Medical examination, Student records.

c). THE FAST LEARNERS.

            The students who learn fast are called fast learners. Obviously their learning speed is more than the peers. Generally many teachers find it easy to teach these students. There teachers work becomes easy. Teacher can teach them fast and he is capable to complete the syllabus within the time. It is an important issue for a teacher to ensure the learning achievement of each student.

Characteristics.

1.      They are not afraid to say “ I don’t Know “

2.      They learn by doing.

3.      Realize many question have no answer.

4.      Can explain it to others.

5.      Able to visualize things.

6.      Do more think less?

7.      Can explain things in one sentence.

Steps to become fast learners.

1.      Check for learning challenges in students

a)      Dyslexia.

b)      Illness.

c)      Particular personality or health disorders.

d)     Disinterested topic.

e)      Environmental factors.

f)       Anxiety.

g)      Break down the information and task into small pots.

h)      Find your learning style.

i)        Ask questions.