I Will Discuss The Research Design Chosen For The Research, Including The Aims Of The Study: Education Dissertation, MU, Ireland

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will outline the components of the research. It will first discuss the topic of research, stating the context of the research and the problem that was the foundation for the research. Next, I will discuss the research design chosen for the research, including the aims of the study, and the rationale for the study. It will finally provide an outline of the research and give an overview of the structure.

Context

EPSEN ACT(2004) states that children have a fundamental right to be educated alongside their peers in a mainstream environment. It further states that the education of children should be tailored to meet their individual capabilities.

While inclusive education is a well sought-after goal, it proves difficult to achieve. One barrier noted in the literature is the ability to communicate effectively with peers and teachers, leaving a child vulnerable to isolation (Kearns, et al., 2011). Furthermore, it indicates that inclusive education is only possible if a student can communicate their needs and wants to their teacher and peers (Kleinert, J. 2019). While this knowledge is available, communication tools such as Lámh are rarely introduced to the whole class.

Literature confirms that the use of AAC in the classroom can prove difficult for several reasons.

Moreover, the topic of Lámh to promote inclusion is a personal goal. The researcher uses it in her own pre-school class to improve the learning of a five-year-old child with Autism. The researcher also teaches it to all the children in the class to promote acceptance and inclusion of said child.

Research Problem

As stated above the literature points to inclusion only being possible if the child has an effective method of communication. However, while a child with additional needs is often supported in achieving some form of communication, it is not generally taught to the whole class. Furthermore, when it is implemented into a pre-school or primary setting, teachers have reported problems with training and support.