Inclusive Methodology

Inclusive Methodology

“Practitioners need materials and methods which promote alternative ways of enabling children to learn in ordinary classrooms.”

Inclusive methodology is the theme for this issue of the newsletter. Our readers tell us that they desperately need training materials. It is not enough to say ‘be more flexible’ or ‘use active, not passive methods’. Teachers need help in learning to use more participatory, “get up and go” methods. There is a lot more work to be done in developing such training materials. Here Bob Linney, the author of ‘Pictures, People, Power’ and ‘The Copy Book’, describes three different types of communication. One-way communication is an example of passive learning. Whereas two-way and multi-way communication is people-centred by starting where the learners are.

	The teacher gives out informationThe students receive information from the teacher The teacher is active, the students are passive The teacher stands, the students sit down in rows The teacher possesses valuable knowledge The knowledge and experience of the students do not enter into the communication process There is a very enequal distribution of power between teacher and students
	The teacher does most of the talking The students do not talk much, but sometimes ask the teacher questions or make comments to the teacher The teacher stands, the students sit down The students do not talk with each other
	Learners and facilitator sit together in a circle Learners participate actively Everybody talks – no-one dominates the discussion Everybody’s knowledge and experience is valued There is a relatively even distribution of power within the group Nobody falls asleep

Pictures, People, Power (1995), Bob Linney, Macmillan, ISBN: 0-333-60044-4