Investigating teachers’ experiences of support for learners with hearing impairment at a special school in Pretoria
Date
2023-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
This inquiry explored teachers' experiences of support for learners with hearing impairment (HI) in a special school in Pretoria. Through a qualitative approach, data were collected and analysed to better understand teachers' experiences in providing appropriate instruction and support to learners with HI. Thus, using the interpretivism paradigm to inquire about the teachers support experiences for learners with HI was a logical step. I used Florian’s' theory of inclusive pedagogy to interpret the findings and draw conclusions I used qualitative methods such as interviews to collect data. A purposeful selection of participants was made to ensure the research questions were answered adequately. Thereafter, semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand each participant's perspectives in the study sample of six teachers. The interview schedule was designed to allow reflection by participants into their unique teaching experiences openly and candidly, providing invaluable insight into the dynamics of the study sample. All conversations were recorded verbatim to ensure accuracy. The recordings of the conversations were then transcribed for further analysis. This enabled me to easily recognise patterns and themes in the data. I then analysed the data to identify key themes and patterns. The findings revealed that teachers found the support they received instrumental in helping them effectively implement the curriculum and address classroom challenges. The study suggests that parents are actively involved in their children’s education which benefits all involved. In addition, the school must update its language policy to ensure that learners with HI receive instruction in sign language. Therefore, it is recommended that the school revise its language policy to incorporate sign language as a language of teaching and learning to promote learner success. To create an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all and ensure that learners with HI are supported, this policy should also be extended to include sign language in the classroom.
Description
Research Report for Master of Education (M Ed) Inclusive Education, to the Faculty of Humanities, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023.
Keywords
Hearing impairment, Teacher support, Pedagogy, Inclusive education, Teaching experiences, Special school, UCTD
Citation
Molala, Lesetja Johannes. (2023). Investigating teachers’ experiences of support for learners with hearing impairment at a special school in Pretoria. [Master's dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/41492