Multifunctional Resource Room for inclusion: Contributions to the teaching and learning of students with special educational needs
Assistive technology. Learning. Inclusion. Resource Room. Teacher.
The proposal of this master's project is constituted of two interconnected studies. The first study aimed to map the reality of the implementation of Multifunctional Resource Rooms (MRR) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and to investigate the training and experiences of the teachers who work in these rooms. In turn, the second study aims to develop a proposal for teacher training aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the use of such resources. At the present time, the first study is almost complete. In this, the inclusive paradigm is discussed, and later it is presents a historical contextualization of the Laws, decrees and recommendations that support and guide the inclusive process in the common schools, at national level, as well as in the local reality of Rio Grande do Norte. It is also described the characterization of MRR as an guiding instrument the National Policy on Special Education in the perspective of the inclusive education. To reach the objectives proposed by the study, two specific questionnaires were developed. The first one was directed to the State Department of Education and the Regional Education and Culture Directorates, with the purpose of identifying by cities the following information: a) number of Multifunctional Resource Rooms; b) number of effective teachers allocated in classrooms. The second questionnaire developed was aimed at the Municipal Secretaries of Education. In this instrument, composed of open and closed questions, the following domains were evaluated: a) The offer of the Specialized Educational Assistance - SEA in the network; b) Level of education in which SEA is offered; c) number of teachers allocated to MRR; d) initial and continuing training of teachers who work in these rooms; e) Type of resource room; f) number of students attended in classrooms; g) hours of operation of the rooms. It was found that more than half of the cities in the state don’t have MRR, and that the greatest difficulties faced by teachers are lack of training and material resources. Based on these findings, a teacher training strategy will be developed with two objectives: a) to discuss the potential of the assistive technologies available in the MRR; b) to construct learning strategies from the use of such technologies. Such data are expected to support new actions that ensure meaningful learning and full development for children attending MRR.