Inclusive Education and Sustainable Learning in Ecuador

A School of Education Seminar held on 4 September, 2019 presented by Associate Professor Jeanette Berman

The Inclusive Education and Sustainable Learning project was conceptualised by the Ecuadorean Ministry of Education and has been delivered through a collaborative partnership between three teacher educators who were all at UNE when they began to work together. The project uses a ‘train the trainer’ model to provide professional learning for 250 teacher/mentors each year that focuses on equity (learning for all), relevance (teaching that matters) and sustainability (learning that lasts). These teacher/mentors, in turn, support around 25 teachers each in their geographic areas for a total of 5,500 teachers. The project began in the Coast region based around Guayaquil during 2018 and has extended to the Highlands region in 2019. The content and pedagogy of the workshops delivered in Ecuador to illustrate an approach to inclusive classroom practice that has a focus on learning, not labels; works towards the provision of timely, appropriate support for learning that can reduce the impact of a disability; encourages the use of evidence-based instructional approaches; and supports collaboration and communication as key for students, teachers and families working towards creating more inclusive educational settings.

Presentation