2009: Rachel Barrell, University of Worcester
Rachel Barrell is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Worcester, where she teaches special education needs and mathematics on both the BA (Hons) and Post Graduate Primary initial teacher training programmes.
Rachel began her teaching career as a primary school teacher and worked for 12 years in both mainstream and special schools, including two years in an international school on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.
Rachel has a keen interest in research and development of SEN and ITT - investigating through an action research model whether a specialised placement in a SEN school for undergraduate ITT students enhances student growth through both the practical experience and also specialised pedagogical teaching - are the skills and understanding they learn on placement transferable into mainstream? Are student attitudes towards SEN crucial for positive changes to develop? Should it be considered a vital element of their training? If so, what are the implications of this for us as ITE trainers?
Rachel used the 2009 UCET research scholarship to visit Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, working with leading researchers in SEN at the British University in Dubai.
The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the pedagogical links between University and in the classroom, focusing on confidence and attitudes towards SEN in the UAE.
This was achieved through observations and teacher interviews in government schools and also through teaching at the University to gain insight from a practitioner perspective.
- article published in the Guardian newspaper about SEN training project focusing on innovative practice (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/feb/10/special-educational-needs)
- Film commissioned by national NAHT (April 2009) to show at annual conference - aim to highlight innovative practice in ITT. (http://www.educationnowtv.com/schools/c/featured_films_09/v/innovative_and _creative_practices/.
