Disability conversations: The NCCD and distance education
This second season of the NCCD Portal podcast series focuses on how schools support students with either a diagnosed disability or an imputed disability reported in the NCCD.
In this episode, we turn our attention to distance education. We examine how students with disability receive effective adjustments while learning in remote and home-based settings. We also reflect on the importance of consultation and a collaborative partnership between families and the school team in the context of online schooling.
In the podcast, you’ll meet Susan Monaghan, Head of Inclusion and Student Support at the Brisbane School of Distance Education (Brisbane SDE). She discusses some tools they use in an online classroom to scaffold and target a student’s individual learning needs. Janine Denner, a teacher from the School of Isolated and Distance Education in Perth, talks about the key role families play when students are no longer in a face-to-face classroom. Year 1 teacher, Sophie Bailey, then discusses the steps she takes to engage students on screen to keep them learning.
Top five takeaways
- Establish a clear and consistent feedback channel between the school and families to help students remain engaged in class and swiftly address any concerns.
- Look for opportunities to consult and build relationships with families both in person and remotely and take steps to establish trust and respect.
- Conduct collaborative and constructive consultation with students and their families, guide decisions about learning adjustments, and consider the unique opportunities and challenges that arise within an online learning environment.
- Ensure regular record-keeping is done, preferably using a central database, which is accessible by the entire school team.
- Have personalised learning plans in place and make appropriate adjustments.
Discussion starters
- What differences between a face-to-face learning environment and online classroom do I need to consider before making any adjustments?
- What strategies and tools can I use to cater for the academic, emotional and environmental needs of students in a distance education setting?
- How can I evaluate and modify adjustments to ensure students can engage in learning at their own level?
- What tools can I use for collecting evidence to ensure students receive consistent support?
- What steps can I take to consult and build a positive partnership with students and their families?
Interviewees:
Susan Monaghan, Head of Inclusion and Student Support, Brisbane School of Distance Education (Brisbane SDE)
Janine Denner, teacher, School of Isolated and Distance Education (Perth)
Sophie Bailey, Year 1 teacher, Brisbane School of Distance Education (Brisbane SDE)
Duration
29-minute run time.
Listen on the go
Search for Disability Conversations in Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts to listen via your mobile device.
Resources
Download a transcript of the podcast episode.
Credits
Host/Producer
Serpil Şenelmiş, Written & Recorded
Producer/Audio Engineer
James Brandis, Written & Recorded
- mail Email
-
BookmarkThis bookmark has been added to your bookmarks.Did you know you can organise your bookmarks into separate lists when you are signed in? Sign in or register