Teaching Strategies in Special Education, Article Critique Example

Abstract

This document outlines a qualitative analysis of teaching strategies employed by specialist in the special education discipline. An evaluation of the executive summary; method; instruments applied; design and procedure techniques; results; discussion and conclusions will be undertaken. The aim was to ‘map out and assess the effectiveness of the different approaches and strategies used to teach pupils with the full range of SEN’ (Davis & Florain, 2004, p. 6).

Education: Article Review

Davis, P., & Florain, L. (2004).Teaching Strategies and Approaches for Pupils with Special Educational Needs: A Scoping Study. Norwich. Queens Printer

Executive summary

Davis and Florian (2004) adequately projected their deep concerns for the investigation by giving a comprehensive background; approach; key findings and conclusions. It was succinct allowing the reader a preview opportunity to what the study had accomplished.

Introduction

The introduction followed typical research standards by outlining the researchers’ aims and objectives; methods, findings from literature review, which encompassed principal theoretical perspective and strand reports. At a first glance it appeared to be repeating the executive summary, but as the reader began to further explore the script it was an elaboration of it. Precisely, no theoretical perspective or strand report was previously mentioned (Davis & Florain, 2004).

Method

Method applied was a qualitative review of literature. A two phased strategy for accessing relevant literature was adapted. Three research questions were further used to guide the selection and analysis of data retrieved from the literature. Publications from national, international; group and individual research studies met the criteria for review. Main criteria for selection were how well the literature presented could represent categories of impairment in SEN when areas of need were applied. These criteria coincided with Core of Practices as a means of reinforcement ad internal validity technique (Davis & Florain, 2004).

Instruments

In any literature review of a distinctly qualitatively nature the instrument is always documents. These researchers used documents from reliable sources based on a criterion of need. Need criteria informing the execution of the instrument were communication and interaction; cognition and learning; behavior, emotional and social development and sensory/physical. Based on these criteria the instrument could be considered valid measuring the phenomenon ‘Teaching Strategies and Approaches for Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) (Davis & Florain, 2004).

Design and Procedures

The study design and procedures identified was qualitative literature review. This is separate from the article design and procedures in itself. These researchers applied a competent technique displaying their discourse in detailed chapters’ presentations. It encompassed an introduction, and discussion of each need criteria then a concise conclusion (Davis & Florain, 2004).

Results

Qualitative research studies are exempt from displaying results in statistical data as quantitative ones do except for simple percentages calculations. In this study researchers did not make any references to percentile ranges in exhibiting results. There were distinct concise explanatory descriptive deductions in their presentation. A valuable strategy adapted in displaying and interpreting results was applying the strand report technique (Davis & Florain, 2004).

Discussion

The discussion techniques were expository explaining the outcome of need criteria applications to the literature review and how strand reporting influenced conclusions. Research language was consistent with jargons used within the science and features consistent with ‘Teaching Strategies and Approaches for Pupils with Special Educational Needs’ (Davis & Florain, 2004).

Conclusion

The conclusion embraced a solid recap of key points within the document. It did not only report a conclusive statement of findings, but also projected recommendations for future research intervention. My conclusion is that this was a well-researched subject and the results will be beneficial to the special need education discipline.

References

Davis, P., & Florain, L. (2004).Teaching Strategies and Approaches for Pupils with Special Educational Needs: A Scoping Study. Norwich. Queens Printer