On the pulse of change: the new beat of special education in higher education

Article

Keeffe, Mary and De George-Walker, Linda. 2010. "On the pulse of change: the new beat of special education in higher education." Australasian Journal of Special Education. 34 (2), pp. 99-108. https://doi.org/10.1375/ajse.34.2.99
Article Title

On the pulse of change: the new beat of special education in higher education

ERA Journal ID20689
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsKeeffe, Mary (Author) and De George-Walker, Linda (Author)
Journal TitleAustralasian Journal of Special Education
Journal Citation34 (2), pp. 99-108
Number of Pages10
Year2010
Place of PublicationBrisbane, Australia
ISSN1030-0112
1833-6914
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1375/ajse.34.2.99
Web Address (URL)http://www.asepa.org.au/PDF/Call%20for%20papers.pdf
Abstract

The roles and responsibilities of special educators in both special and regular school settings are changing rapidly. More than two decades ago the move towards more inclusive
practices disrupted the traditional, niche separatism of special educators to the extent that they are now an integral part of the regular school teaching staff. Today the broad agenda to facilitate access and participation for all students in education, not just students with
disabilities, influences the roles and responsibilities of special educators.
This article briefly identifies some of the generic pulses that are moving the special education profession from a focus on low incidence disabilities towards a more
comprehensive approach to inclusion, school responsiveness and individualised learning pathways. From the foundation of inclusive practice, this paper will describe how a
qualitative study was used to understand the changing roles and responsibilities of special educators. A case study analysis of 17 schools formed the basis of the investigation. Principals, lead teachers in special education and special education teachers were asked to identify trends and priorities in special education and also to identify rewards and challenges in their jobs.
Further cross referencing with teacher and special educator standards, a focus group, a stakeholder group and research in the field increased the opportunity for academics and
special educators to critically reflect on the emerging demands placed on special educators and the attributes that are needed to be professionally effective.

Keywordsspecial education; accreditation; diversity; school responsiveness; student autonomy
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390201. Education policy
390102. Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development
390411. Special education and disability
Public Notes

This publication is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purposes of study, research, or review, but is subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source.

Byline AffiliationsLa Trobe University
Faculty of Education
EventAASE/ASEPA 2010 National Conference: At the Heart of the Matter: School and Classroom Leadership
Event Details
AASE/ASEPA 2010 National Conference: At the Heart of the Matter: School and Classroom Leadership
Event Date
17 to end of 18 Jun 2010
Event Location
Darwin, Australia
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q0324/on-the-pulse-of-change-the-new-beat-of-special-education-in-higher-education

Log in to edit

Download files

Published Version
Keefe_DeGeorge_AJSE_v34n2_PV.pdf
File access level: Anyone

  • 1939
    total views
  • 297
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Educational Learning and Development: Building and Enhancing Capacity
Baguley, Margaret, Danaher, Patrick Alan, Davies, Andy, De George-Walker, Linda, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren and Arden, Catherine H.. 2014. Educational Learning and Development: Building and Enhancing Capacity. Basingstoke, United Kingdom. Palgrave Macmillan.
Towards an adolescent friendly methodology: accessing the authentic through collective reflection
Keeffe, Mary and Andrews, Dorothy. 2015. "Towards an adolescent friendly methodology: accessing the authentic through collective reflection." International Journal of Research and Method in Education. 38 (4), pp. 357-370. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2014.931367
Contemporary capacity-building in educational contexts
Danaher, Patrick Alan, Davies, Andy, De George-Walker, Linda, Jones, Janice K., Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Arden, Catherine H. and Baguley, Margaret. 2014. Contemporary capacity-building in educational contexts. Basingstoke, United Kingdom. Palgrave Macmillan.
Principles and pressures in managing student attitudes to innovative mobile learning: a view from an Australian distance-education-intensive university
Hafeez-Baig, Abdul, Gururajan, Raj, Danaher, P. A. and De George-Walker, Linda. 2013. "Principles and pressures in managing student attitudes to innovative mobile learning: a view from an Australian distance-education-intensive university." International Journal of Management in Education. 7 (1/2), pp. 149-162. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMIE.2013.050818
Capacities, connections, capital and capabilities: considering bioecological and electrical engineering perspectives
De George-Walker, Linda, Matthews, Karl J. and Danaher, Patrick Alan. 2012. "Capacities, connections, capital and capabilities: considering bioecological and electrical engineering perspectives." Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Tyler, Mark A. and Arden, Catherine H. (ed.) Constructing capacities: building capabilities through learning and engagement. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 31-50
Evaluating our research team's first three years to identify broader strategies for effective and sustainable capacity constructions
Tyler, Mark A., Turner, Michelle, Peel, Karen, Oliver, Mark E., Noble, Karen, Midgley, Warren, McLennan, Brad, McIlveen, Peter, Matthews, Karl J., Jones, Janice Kathleen, Henderson, Robyn, Fogarty, Roderick J., De George-Walker, Linda, Davies, Andrew, Danaher, Patrick Alan, Baguley, Margaret and Arden, Catherine H.. 2012. "Evaluating our research team's first three years to identify broader strategies for effective and sustainable capacity constructions." Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Robyn, Henderson, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Tyler, Mark A. and Arden, Catherine H. (ed.) Constructing capacities: building capabilities through learning and engagement. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 256-275
Analysing approaches to constructing capacities
Arden, Catherine H., Baguley, Margaret, Danaher, Patrick Alan, Davies, Andrew, De George-Walker, Linda, Fogarty, Roderick J., Henderson, Robyn, Matthews, Karl J., Jones, Janice, McIlveen, Peter, McLennan, Brad, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Oliver, Mark E., Peel, Karen, Turner, Michelle and Tyler, Mark A.. 2012. "Analysing approaches to constructing capacities." Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Tyler, Mark A. and Arden, Catherine H. (ed.) Constructing capacities: building capabilities through learning and engagement. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 4-30
Student perceptions and uses of wireless handheld devices: implications for implementing blended and mobile learning in an Australian university
Gururajan, Raj, Hafeez-Baig, Abdul, Danaher, P. A. and De George-Walker, Linda. 2011. "Student perceptions and uses of wireless handheld devices: implications for implementing blended and mobile learning in an Australian university." Kitchenham, Andrew (ed.) Models for interdisciplinary mobile learning: delivering information to students. Hershey, PA. United States. IGI Global. pp. 231-246
Challenges and opportunities for academics adopting an online peer review innovation
Hafeez-Baig, Abdul, De George-Walker, Linda, Gururajan, Raj and Danaher, P. A.. 2011. "Challenges and opportunities for academics adopting an online peer review innovation." Studies in Learning Evaluation Innovation and Development. 8 (1), pp. 26-37.
Students' perspectives on leadership: Interpretations of symbolic, social and cultural capital
Keeffe, Mary and Andrews, Dorothy. 2011. "Students' perspectives on leadership: Interpretations of symbolic, social and cultural capital." Leading and Managing. 17 (2), pp. 21-35.
Research for informed, autonomous professionals
Keeffe, Mary. 2008. "Research for informed, autonomous professionals." Aspland, Tania (ed.) 2008 Australian Teacher Education Association Conference (2008 ATEA). Sunshine Coast, Australia 08 - 11 Jul 2008 Brisbane, Australia.
Looking for ethical needles in a 62-year-old haystack, or unearthing gems in the mud?
De George-Walker, Linda and Danaher, Patrick Alan. 2009. "Looking for ethical needles in a 62-year-old haystack, or unearthing gems in the mud?" International Journal of Disability Development and Education. 56 (4), pp. 421-427. https://doi.org/10.1080/10349120903306780
Connecting to community: what do we want in our special education graduates?
Hughes, Stephen and De George-Walker, Linda. 2010. "Connecting to community: what do we want in our special education graduates?" Australasian Journal of Special Education. 34 (2), pp. 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1375/ajse.34.2.109
The contributions of research design and process facilitation in accessing adolescent views of leadership
Dempster, Neil, Lizzio, Alf, Keeffe, Mary, Skinner, James and Andrews, Dorothy. 2010. "The contributions of research design and process facilitation in accessing adolescent views of leadership." Leading and Managing. 16 (2), pp. 77-89.
Towards some answers to the questions of ethics in collaborative research
De George-Walker, Linda, Arden, Catherine H. and Danaher, Patrick Alan. 2010. "Towards some answers to the questions of ethics in collaborative research." Arden, Catherine H., Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen and Tyler, Mark A. (ed.) Sustaining synergies: collaborative research and researching collaboration. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 114-135
Considering collaborations in writing a research book: implications for sustaining a synergistic research team
Tyler, Mark A., Noble, Karen, Midgley, Warren, Henderson, Robyn, De George-Walker, Linda, Danaher, Patrick Alan and Arden, Catherine H.. 2010. "Considering collaborations in writing a research book: implications for sustaining a synergistic research team." Arden, Catherine H., Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen and Tyler, Mark A. (ed.) Sustaining synergies: collaborative research and researching collaboration. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 136-149
Collaborative concept mapping: an education research team leveraging their collaborative efforts
Tyler, Mark A. and De George-Walker, Linda. 2010. "Collaborative concept mapping: an education research team leveraging their collaborative efforts." Arden, Catherine H., Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen and Tyler, Mark A. (ed.) Sustaining synergies: collaborative research and researching collaboration. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 54-71
Sustaining and transforming collaborative research: principles and practices
Arden, Catherine H., Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen and Tyler, Mark A.. 2010. "Sustaining and transforming collaborative research: principles and practices." Arden, Catherine H., Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen and Tyler, Mark A. (ed.) Sustaining synergies: collaborative research and researching collaboration. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 1-12
Experiences and perceptions of learner engagement in blended learning environments: the case of an Australian university
De George-Walker, Linda, Hafeez-Baig, Abdul, Gururajan, Raj and Danaher, Patrick Alan. 2010. "Experiences and perceptions of learner engagement in blended learning environments: the case of an Australian university." Inoue, Yukiko (ed.) Cases on online blended learning technologies in higher education: concepts and practices. Hershey, PA, USA. IGI Global. pp. 23-43
Selected influences on students' uses of wireless handheld devices: an Iranian exploratory case study
Hafeez-Baig, Abdul, Gururajan, Raj, Nazemi, Shamsodin, De George-Walker, Linda and Danaher, P. A.. 2010. "Selected influences on students' uses of wireless handheld devices: an Iranian exploratory case study." Abas, Zoraini Wati, Jung, Insung and Luca, Joseph (ed.) Global Learn Asia Pacific 2010. Penang, Malaysia 17 - 20 May 2010 Chesapeake, VA, United States.
Self-determined blended learning: a case study of blended learning design
De George-Walker, Linda and Keeffe, Mary. 2010. "Self-determined blended learning: a case study of blended learning design." Higher Education Research and Development. 29 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360903277380
Horizons of life experiences
Keeffe, Mary. 2006. "Horizons of life experiences." Keeffe, Mary and Carrington, Suzanne (ed.) Schools and diversity . Sydney, Australia. Pearson Education Australia. pp. 198-210
The inclusive society
Keeffe, Mary. 2006. "The inclusive society." Keeffe, Mary and Carrington, Suzanne (ed.) Schools and diversity . Sydney, Australia. Pearson Education Australia. pp. 2-15
Transitioning into university: 'interrupted' first year students problem-solving their way into study
Henderson, Robyn, Noble, Karen and De George-Walker, Linda. 2009. "Transitioning into university: 'interrupted' first year students problem-solving their way into study." Studies in Learning Evaluation Innovation and Development. 6 (1), pp. 51-65.
Burnout confirmed as a viable explanation for beginning teacher attrition
O'Brien, Patrick, Goddard, Richard and Keeffe, Mary. 2008. "Burnout confirmed as a viable explanation for beginning teacher attrition ." Jeffery, Peter L. (ed.) AARE 2007: Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference 2007: Research Impacts: Proving or Improving?. Fremantle, Australia 25 - 29 Nov 2007 Fremantle, Australia.