In this section you can find useful professional development resources – including articles, webinars, podcast episodes, research and teaching tips and tools – all to help you develop your skills and knowledge of Using inclusive practices.
What does 'Using inclusive practices' involve?
This professional practice is about identifying, understanding and addressing the diversity of learners and their needs. This includes identifying the barriers and challenges that marginalised learners face, understanding the pedagogical strategies that impact learner outcomes, addressing the diversity of learners during the teaching and learning processes, and demonstrating and encouraging inclusive behaviour in and outside the classroom (e.g. with colleagues, parents, and other learners). It involves:
developing awareness of your beliefs and behaviours and how they impact on establishing and maintaining an inclusive learning environment (see also Understanding and developing my professional identity)
recognising and demonstrating inclusive practices that are appropriate to your context, and treating all your learners equitably and with respect (see also Understanding my learners)
using appropriate pedagogical strategies that encourage inclusive education within a safe, secure, supportive learning environment (e.g. appropriate and fair assessment and feedback processes for learners with special educational needs, developing positive gender-sensitive social interactions, developing positive attitudes towards different languages, etc.)
choosing and/or creating appropriate resources and materials in relation to the diversity of your learners; asking for, and responding to, feedback from your learners about the choice of resources and materials
developing trusting and respectful relationships with and between your learners, and intentionally removing barriers so that all learners:
- are represented
- feel included and valued
- have a sense of well-being
- have equal opportunities to learn
encouraging understanding and raising awareness of justice, equality, diversity and inclusion among your learners
supporting your learners to develop their voice, identify their own strengths and interests and learning goals, by making reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers
identifying and collaborating with appropriate specialists and other relevant individuals (e.g. parents, other learners, local organisations) to create an inclusive learning environment
reflecting on how inclusive your learning environment is, how you meet the needs of all individuals and how you incorporate learners' voices (see also Understanding and developing my professional identity)
