Inclusive education proposes everyone’s belonging and engagement in learning

Teaching strategies and curriculum and assessment models should be built considering the variability, differences and strengths of each child

The concept of Universal Design for Learning, which guides the perspective of inclusive education , is based on the premise that any learning situation must consider all students, regardless of variability. “Curricula and content should be built with children in mind who have learning difficulties, a different culture or are in a situation of inclusion, so that everyone can fully experience learning,” says Leticia Lyle, co-founder of Camino Education and pedagogical director of Camino School.

She explains that the model is relatively new, from the 1990s, but part of the ideas of socioconstructivism, learning science and reverse planning, which are concepts, practices and ways of doing pedagogy that begin to contemplate this vision.

According to the director, for a long time, special education was a place of exclusion, removing students with learning difficulties or who were experiencing a mental health issue, or a situation of neglect, from the context of other students of the same age group, to make a specific schedule. “Inclusive education, on the other hand, considers that variability in human development is the norm and not the exception, and from that, it is possible to build curriculum, instructional and assessment models that allow everyone to be included.”

Adaptations for inclusive education

As these models must provide for adaptations, active learning proposals usually respond well to these situations, considering that children demonstrate learning in different ways and that they can bring different results.

“When we put the student at the center of the learning process, he knows what he is capable of, what his challenges are and how far he has to go. And when we contextualize and show what is relevant to his life, the chance of this student seeing that it makes sense is much greater. This changes the student's feeling of belonging, ”says the director. As an example, she cites the projects of Cloe , Camino Education's active digital learning platform. "The idea is to allow all students to be able to engage in the learning situation from their strengths."

Leticia points out that good education is inclusive by nature, allows belonging and representation and promotes a safe environment, because no one is being excluded or on the margins. “It also allows students to start asking new questions and seeking those ideals of lifelong learning, of always seeing the world with a sense of curiosity and admiration. But the student needs to have a place where he can listen in order to do that. ”