This course enables participants to gain a greater understanding of their professional practice by considering research in the field, not only by reading research articles but also by producing a small-scale research project. Participants will learn to distinguish between ‘academic’ and ‘practitioner-based’ research, discussing the different goals and potentials of each. They will develop an understanding of the way research is shaped by the researcher’s beliefs and worldview. The module will cover various research methodologies, with emphasis on action-research, case study, ethnography, and life story, as well as research techniques relevant in the field of educational inquiry.

The module provides an introduction to the range of instructional strategies available to teachers working with pupils identified as gifted and students with learning disabilities or impairments.
The participants will gain knowledge about the development, characteristics and needs of gifted students, as well as students with learning disabilities. Issues such as the provision of appropriate challenge, motivation, social interaction and emotional well-being will be examined. Particular attention will be given to the promotion of social skills and peer relations.
The module also provides an overview of likely primary causes of learning disabilities, and examines several types of disability such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Specific support strategies and interventions for pupils with learning disabilities are addressed.