Creating an Environment for Pre-Service Teachers to Work with Learners with Special Needs

Authors

  • Jeanne Hager Burth, Ed.D. (Author) University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg image/svg+xml
    Jeanne Hager Burth, Ed.D. is a dedicated educator and child advocate who has been working in the field of education for 33 years. Currently holding the positions of Assistant Professor and Director of Field Placement and Teacher Certification at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, she has also served in the roles of Principal, Professor of Educational Studies, Professor of Literacy Studies, Teacher in grades 1, 2, and 3, Learning Support, and Gifted Education. She also serves as the Western PA Director for the PA Multi-region STEM Math and Science Partnership Grant.
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.304
In this study, pre-service teachers were afforded the opportunity to participate in two on-campus activities for students with low-incidence disabilities. The project explores the attitudes and perceptions of a group of pre-service teachers before and after participating in two educational experiences with students with low-incidence special needs. An informal educational environment was created on campus to give the pre-service teachers a familiar and casual experience when interacting with learners with cognitive deficits, autism spectrum disorder, physical exceptionalities, and emotional and behavioral disabilities. This study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) Can pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards teaching students with disabilities change by providing them with non-academic experiences with persons who have disabilities? (2) Does a familiar setting impact the pre-service teacher’s knowledge of teaching persons with exceptionalities when participating in a field experience with persons with low-incidence disabilities?

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There are 11 references in total.
Burth, J. H. (2016). Creating an Environment for Pre-Service Teachers to Work with Learners with Special Needs. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 11(2), 17-33. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.304

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  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted May 17, 2016
  • Published June 15, 2016
  • Issue Spring/Summer 2016
  • Section Articles
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