Psychological and Philosophical Bases of Special Education

The Role of Psychology in Special Education

The psychology theory can be used as a foundation for our efforts to change or solve the behavior of
children with special needs. The purpose of psychology is to describe, explain, control, and solve
problems regarding mental and behavioral phenomena. The phenomena can be specified as perception,
human development, attitude, motivation, etc.

As a scientific study, psychology has some methods for describing the objects of psychology (cognitive,
affective, and behavioral).

Psychological Bases

● Cognitive Development
● Social Learning Theory
● Scaffolding
● Situated Learning

1. Cognitive Development

● Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through four
different stages of learning. His theory focuses not only on understanding how children acquire
knowledge but also on understanding the nature of intelligence.

Sensorimotor Preoperational Concrete Operational Formal Operational

Birth - 2 Years 2-7 Years 7-12 Years 12 years onward

Understands the world Understands the world Understands the world Understands the world
through senses and through language and through logical thinking through hypothetical
actions. mental images. and categories. thinking and scientific
reasoning.
In applying the cognitive development, you can do the following:

1. Use concrete props and visual aids whenever possible.

2. Make instructions relatively short, using actions as well as words.

3. Do not expect the students to consistently see the world from someone else's point of view.

4. Be sensitive to the possibility that students may have different meanings for the same word or
different words for the same meaning. Students may also expect everyone to understand the words they
have invented.

5. Give children a great deal of hands-on practice with the skills that serve as building blocks for more
complex skills like reading comprehension.

6. Provide a wide range of experiences to build a foundation for concept learning and language.
2. Social Learning Theory

Albert Bandura
● Social learning theory suggests that social behavior is learned by observing and imitating the
behavior of others.
● Learning through observation, modeling, and imitation.

SLT Modeling Process

1. Attention - We must first pay attention to the model.

2. Retention - We must be able to remember the observed behavior
3. Reproduction - We must be able to replicate the behavior demonstrated.
4. Motivation - We must be motivated to demonstrate what we have learned.

In applying the social learning theory, you can do the following:

● Flipping the classroom

● Gamification
● Teachers using rewards to support built-in motivational learning
● Encouraging connections and relationships between students
● Peer mentoring, peer teaching, or peer assessments
● Student-created videos or presentations
● Giving positive reinforcement to students who are carrying out the desired behavior
● Debates
● Student-created video skits or role-playing
● Monitored social media use
3. Scaffolding

Lev Vygotsky
● Vygotsky's scaffolding is a method of teaching that helps learners understand educational
content by working with an educator or someone who has a better understanding of the
material. The concept states students learn more when working with people who have a broader
scope of knowledge than the student is learning the content. The educators or students teaching
the learners scaffold the material in smaller chunks so the learner can expand their
understanding of the material more than they would on.

Zone of Proximal Development

These skills are too difficult for a child to master on their own, but that can be done with guidance and
encouragement from a knowledgeable person.

What is Known → What is not Known

In applying the scaffolding, you can do the following:

● Visuals and Realia
● Use of First Language
● Read Aloud
● Modeling Gestures
● Intentional small group /partner work
● Sentence Structures/Starters
● Connect to background knowledge
● Graphical Organizers
4. Situated Learning

Jean Lave
● Situated learning refers to the fact that context is of great importance in learning and teaching.
When learners are familiar with the context, they can better understand new information and
make connections to prior experiences. Similarly, when a suitable schema is not engaged,
learners have trouble understanding the learning contents and are compelled to remember or
learn by rote. That is why; it could be said that learners cannot apply what they know to the
field.

Situated Learning

Knowledge is situated being in part a product of the activity, context, and culture in which it is developed
and used” (Brown, Collins, Duguid. 1989, p.32)

Culture shared Community people with shared

- beliefs - location
- customs - interests
- behavior - goals
- attitudes

In applying the social learning theory, you can do the following:

● The best learning occurs when students are presented with a problem themselves and must
think through and act on it like the experts. Problems must be realistic and relevant to the
situation.
● The instructor acts as a coach and model instead of a lecturer. They are also responsible for
scaffolding information into manageable chunks to assist students in solving the problems.
● The learning environment must promote reflection, discussion, and evaluative thinking. Students
must actively engage in the situation, even if most problems are group activities.
● The "content" of a course is not neat packages of information taught by the instructor but the
information learned through contextual and real-life activities.
 Philosophical Bases
Republic Act 9155

● It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to
quality basic education

Republic Act 11650

● The “Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of
Inclusive Education Act”

The Role of Philosophy in Special Education

● Understanding how to help and educate kids with disabilities fully is central to the special
education philosophy.

● It involves being aware of each student's requirements and developing an inclusive learning
environment that satisfies them.
Equity in Education

The pursuit of creating an educational system that caters to students of all kinds and develops their
educational experience accordingly. This means that no matter what a student's background, language,
race, economic profile, gender, learning capability, disability, or family history, each student has the
opportunity to get the support and resources they need to achieve their educational goals.

The Principles of Equality in Inclusive Education

1. Diversity enriches and strengthens all communities.

2. All learners' different learning styles and achievements are equally valued, respected, and celebrated
by society.
3. All learners are enabled to fulfill their potential by taking into account individual requirements and
needs.
4. Support is guaranteed and fully resourced across the whole learning experience.
5. All learners need friendship and support from people of their age.
6. All children and young people are educated together as equals in their local communities.
7. Inclusive education is incompatible with segregated provision both within and outside mainstream
education.
The Principles of Inclusive Education

1. Teaching All Students

2. Exploring Multiple Identities

3. Preventing Prejudice

4. Promoting Social Justice

5. Choosing Appropriate Materials

6. Teaching and Learning about Culture and Religions

7. Adapting and Integrating Lessons Appropriately

“Inclusion is not just about changing the education system; it’s about changing attitudes and
perceptions towards diversity.” -Unknown