I have shortlisted 3 strategies to improve inclusive education at the tertiary level, specifically for IPG:

1. Disability Awareness Training

• Conduct workshops for lecturers on different disabilities and special needs like autism, dyslexia, etc. (According to a study by Ali et al. (2006), a majority of Malaysian pre-service teachers and IPG lecturers have limited knowledge about inclusive education and lack exposure working with special needs children)

• With the awareness and knowledge gained, they can learn & share teaching strategies to cater to the needs of pupils with disabilities. Example: Provide written notes to help deaf students.

  
  

  2. Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

• Design classroom instruction and activities with flexibility allowing multiple means for learning.

• Example: Use videos, audio notes, text slides so students can access materials in ways suited to their learning needs.

• By designing more flexible curriculums and using UDL framework, IPG can provide better support for differing student abilities and learning styles. This is vital for creating truly inclusive tertiary education that fulfills diverse needs.

  
  

  3. Accessible Infrastructure

• Ensure campus buildings, classrooms, walkways accommodate students with physical disabilities.

• Example: Build ramps, disable-friendly washrooms, and elevators for easy access.

1. lecturers awareness and positive reinforcement: the lecturers need to have awareness on inclusive education and how to treat their students accordingly. there are some students that we can see not so good in their studying but can do very well in their practicum. the lecturers need to use positive reinforcement to their students so they don't feel different from others. i' have seen students that hate particular subjects because of that particular lecturer that treat them differently than others or always use sarcasm to them.

2. visiting inclusive education school/class : as a whole class, students need to have experience observing or even do activities with special needs students. as they do this as a class, they can reflect and gives opinion on their view with each other as they can relate after the visit.

3. accessible infrastructures: the campus administrators need to make sure the whole ipg is accessible to people with physical disabilities. instead of building a fountain or cute gardens, maybe they could fix the classroom, build more safe ramps, fix the fans and lamps and build more ground level classrooms. :)

1) conducting a yearly or monthly campaign to raise awareness about diverse learning styles among the students to promote inclusivity in institution.

2) administration should ensure physical accessibility to students with physical disabilities such as providing ramps to students who are using wheelchairs.

1) Awareness of the Inclusive Education.

In my opinion, most students in our campus are not exposed to the Inclusive Education programme. Some don’t even know that there are trainee-teachers who have disabilities and studying in IPG along with other typical students. Therefore, the campus needs to conduct programmes to educate our students on Inclusive Education, such as expose them about the disabilities, teaching strategies for teaching special needs pupils, and how they learn.

2) Bench mark to campus/ school that has students with disabilities.

Through the sessions, students can experience the situation by themselves. They can observe on how they conduct their classes, how they manage the students, and the facilities that are differ from normal campus.

3) Accessible infrastructure and trained lecturers

To ensure students with special needs are given the opportunity to join the mainstream and to be included, the campus needs to prepare accessible infrastructures and trained lecturers that can handle them. For example, ramps for students with physical disability, braille books for visual impairment, and sign language information boards.

Some infrastructure provided in the campus may not be suitable and beneficial to certain students with special need. Therefore, administration should take responsibility in ensuring each student can study in campus comfortably. For example, building ramps and elevator can help some of them to travel from class to another place comfortably.

- Spread awareness through workshop and campaign:

Conducting workshop and campaign not only for students, lecturers should be included to spread about diverse learning style to promote inclusive education in campus.

·       Lecturers should emphasise a psychologically safe space in the classroom where students can express themselves and their opinions without fear of teasing. For example, lecturers may set ground rules and remind students before they proceed with a lesson to respect the views of others. This will boost their self-confidence to convey their opinions in the classroom.

2.    Utilizing diverse learning material

·       SEN students' needs and interests in the learning process might be different. As every student has individual differences and needs in their learning process, lecturers should implement various and appropriate teaching strategies and materials to educate them. This will help both students and lecturers to create an inclusive atmosphere in the classroom where everyone is welcomed.

To support the special needs children in IPG, facilities are important. IPG should prepare ramps, elevators, screen readers, restrooms, and more for them.

2) Promote awareness

As future to be teachers, IPG students need to have awareness about special need children. When teachers are aware of this, they can create individualized education plans and offer targeted interventions.They also would be cautious of the action and words in order not to hurt the special need children.

1. Provides accessible infrastructure and facilities such as OKU carpark, OKU restrooms, ramps etc.

2. Lecturers in IPG should also use integrate multiple intelligences in their teaching by using multiple methods in their teaching. For example, teaching using video, kinesthetic activities, visual teaching aids etc. This could help to cater IPG students with different needs and different learning styles.

seen a few lecturers who struggle with this. Moreover, we should also establish support services such as counseling, tutoring, and mentoring to address the diverse needs of students. Lastly, I suggest IPG to organize awareness campaigns to foster a culture of acceptance and inclusion.

2. BE CREATIVE

   What I try to say is when conducting activities, try to create activities that caters everyone’s need and ability. By doing so, no one will feel left behind and the process of TnL can be executed efficiently.

3. CREATE A SURVEY

   Some people might be in denial or might not even aware of their issue. Thus, as a teacher we can ask them to take an exam to know their iq and eq level which results will show type of things they are having. For example, ask students to take personality test. As a result, we will know each individual behaviours.

I would suggest that the campus itself should conduct lots of program related to Inclusive Classroom whereas students, lecturers and staffs could have an an eye opening knowledge regarding it.

I also would suggest that the campus should work on to have a better infrastructure that are able to fulfill every kind of students' needs to have a better learning environment.

Other than that, is to have a designated places specially for the special needs people around campus. Such as, toilet, parking and walking path which would help those people to be around the campus easily.

Next is give positive feedback to the students. Students should be guided to learn, excessive pressure and critics will demoralize and make the students lose confident

1. Regular Assessments and Feedback: Implement assessments and feedback mechanisms to evaluate teacher trainees' understanding and application of inclusive education concepts, ensuring they are well-prepared for inclusive teaching practices.

2. Community Engagement and Partnerships: Establish partnerships with local communities and organizations that focus on inclusivity. This collaboration can provide insights, resources, and practical experiences that enhance teacher trainees' understanding of diverse learning needs.

3. Continuous Program Evaluation: Regularly evaluate and update the teacher training program to align with evolving inclusive education standards and best practices. This ensures that the curriculum remains relevant and effective in preparing educators for inclusive teaching.

1. Diversity Training Programs: Develop comprehensive training programs for educators that focus on diversity, inclusion, and teaching strategies for diverse learners. For example, workshops on adapting teaching methods for students with different learning styles.

2. Accessible Infrastructure: Ensure physical infrastructure is accessible to students with disabilities. This includes ramps, elevators, and other facilities that cater to diverse needs.

3. Technology Integration: Embrace inclusive technologies to accommodate various learning styles. For instance, provide lecture materials in multiple formats such as audio, video, and written content.

From my point of view, I have shortlisted 2 strategies:

1. Accessibility:

Ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can easily access all campus facilities, including classes and buildings. For instance, if there is a student with mobility issues, the administrator should consider scheduling the class on the ground floor to enhance the student's experience. Additionally, provide support for students who require extra assistance, particularly those with disabilities.

2. Feedback and ideas

School authorities should conduct surveys or establish a feedback corner for students. They can ask students for their thoughts on how to make improvements and use the feedback to continually enhance the university experience for everyone.

1. Accessibility and Universal Design:

   • Ensure physical and digital infrastructure is accessible for students with various abilities.

   • Implement universal design principles in curriculum development and instructional materials to make them accessible to a wide range of learners.

2. Faculty Training and Professional Development:

   • Provide training for faculty and staff on inclusive teaching methods and strategies.

   • Foster awareness of diverse learning styles and needs, and promote a culture of inclusivity.

3. Flexible Learning Environments:

   • Offer a variety of instructional methods to accommodate different learning styles.

   • Provide flexible scheduling options, including online courses and asynchronous learning opportunities.

4. Support Services:

   • Establish support services such as counseling, tutoring, and academic advising for students with diverse needs.

   • Offer mentorship programs to help students transition into the academic environment.

5. Accessible Technology:

   • Invest in and promote the use of technology that supports diverse learning needs.

   • Ensure that online platforms, course materials, and assessments are accessible to all students.

6. Inclusive Curriculum Development:

   • Incorporate diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences into the curriculum.

   • Allow for multiple assessment methods that consider different learning styles and abilities.

7. Peer Support and Collaboration:

   • Encourage peer support networks where students can learn from and support each other.

   • Facilitate group work and collaborative learning to promote social inclusion.

There are strategies for improving inclusive education at the tertiary level, particularly in my institution of IPGKSAH 

1. As a whole - the institutional head department could conduct an inclusive education program to spread awareness of the importance of inclusive education knowledge. (e.g. sign language in English/ visit inclusive school or places to see how they handle the inclusive people) This could be beneficial for the teacher trainees to prepare for their second phase of practicum.

2. Lecturer could use a variety of instructional formats

• Use different ways to teach: Some students like to see things, some like to read, some like to hear, and others like to move around.

• Give options for how students can show what they know - Some students are good at writing, some like to talk, some like to act, and others prefer to make things.

• Let students choose how they want to learn and show what they know - Every student is different, so everyone should have a chance to learn and show what they've learned in their own way.

• Instead of just talking or reading, try using things like plays, art, videos, or computer programs.

3. Lecturer develop a behavior management plan

• Set Clear Expectations to make sure everyone knows what behavior is expected during a lecture.

• Positive Reinforcement: Reward good behavior with praise (to motivate the students)

• Share the Plan (RMK): Give copies of the plan to students so they know what to expect.

• Different Plans for Different Needs: Lecturers might need different plans for the whole class, small groups, or individual students (some students are in advance, and some need extra guidance/help).

• Review the plan regularly to see if it's working and if any changes are needed (also can ask the students for feedback to improve the lecture).

1. Provide training and professional development for faculty on inclusive teaching strategies and universal design for learning principles. This will help instructors learn how to adapt their curriculum, teaching methods, and assessments to meet the needs of diverse learners.

2. Ensure campus infrastructure and facilities are accessible for students with disabilities. This includes things like ramps, elevators, accessible technology, etc.

3. Develop policies and procedures to provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities, such as extra time on exams, note takers, captioning services, etc.

• Accessibility in education refers to making lessons and materials available to all students. This way, everyone can access the same content at the same time.

• E.g.:

1. Lecturers consult with colleagues — such as speech therapists, external / institutional psychologists / counsellors, educational consultants, or other classroom lecturers at the same grade level

2. Collaborating with a co-lecturer in the classroom, such as a special education lecturer, who can help apply specific teaching techniques for differentiated instruction

3. Giving all students any accommodations and tools they need to physically, intellectually and emotionally access lesson content

4. Working to create lesson content that is accessible to all students, such as audio content for visually impaired learners or auditory learners

Creating a supportive environment

• Fostering a supportive institutional culture is essential. This includes anti-bullying initiatives, peer mentoring programs, and disability awareness campaigns among lecturers, staffs and students in the institution.

Assistive technology

• Technology can be a game-changer in inclusive education. Assistive technology tools, such as communication devices and software, help bridge gaps and enhance learning.

1. In every teachers' institutions, there should have some collaboration between teachers' institutions and special needs students that facilitate opportunities for trainee teachers to interact and build relationships with special needs students in a supportive and respectful manner. For example, Sign Language Workshop, where the students with hearing impairments from any schools/institutions can teach basic sign language skills and raise awareness about the communication needs of individuals with hearing impairments with the help of expert teachers in hearing field.

2. Trainee teachers from every IPG also need to be exposed with assistive technologies specifically for special needs students so that they know the function of the technologies. Furthermore, trainee teachers should be exposed to the suitable teaching aids that could help them meet the needs of their students with learning disabilities. Therefore, trainee teachers should receive training on disability awareness and accessibility best practices to effectively support students with disabilities in inclusive learning environments, fostering a culture of inclusivity and equity within teacher training institutions.

1. Provide faculty and staff with training and resources on inclusive teaching practices, cultural competence, accessibility, and disability awareness. Equip them with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive learning environments and support diverse student populations effectively.

2. Develop inclusive classroom policies that promote equity and respect for all students. Encourage active participation, collaboration, and open dialogue while addressing any biases or stereotypes that may hinder inclusivity.

Although these are not 100% mine, but they are 100% relatable with what we are facing here in IPSAH. Plus, everything here feels reminiscent of Cecil Rajendra's, A Sonnet for Supper.

• Set the tone: Begin the semester by explicitly stating your commitment to creating an inclusive classroom and outlining expectations for respectful behavior and participation.

• Diversify course materials: Use textbooks, articles, case studies, and multimedia resources that represent diverse perspectives and experiences. Avoid perpetuating stereotypes or biases.

• Offer multiple modes of engagement: Provide various ways for students to learn and demonstrate their understanding. This can include lectures, discussions, group projects, presentations, written assignments, and online activities.

For Students:

• Engage actively and respectfully: Participate in class discussions, listen attentively to others, and avoid interrupting or speaking over others. Contribute diverse perspectives and experiences to discussions.

• Challenge your own biases: Reflect on your own assumptions and prejudices about others. Be open to learning about different identities and experiences.

• Advocate for inclusion: Speak up if you witness or experience exclusionary behavior or language. Support peers who may be facing discrimination or marginalization.

1. School Visit

   It will give Real-Life Teaching Practice that provides opportunities for us to work in classrooms with diverse student populations during our training. This could include volunteer opportunities in schools with inclusive programs to get experiences with them.

2. Facilities

   Introduce technology tools and resources that can support inclusive learning, such as assistive technology for students with disabilities, educational apps that cater to diverse learning needs, and online resources for personalized learning.

3. Teaching Styles

   Encourage us to reflect on our teaching styles and consider how we can adapt our approach to meet the needs of all students. It might be beneficial to get support from lecturers.

1. Promote Universal Design for Learning (UDL): UDL is an approach that aims to create flexible and inclusive learning environments that cater to diverse learners. Teacher trainee institutes should adopt UDL principles by providing multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression. This can include using various teaching methods, multimedia resources, and assistive technologies to accommodate different learning styles and abilities.

2. Offer Inclusive Pedagogy Training: Teacher trainee programs should emphasize inclusive pedagogy, which involves adapting teaching methods, materials, and assessments to meet the needs of all learners, including those with disabilities, diverse cultural backgrounds, and different learning preferences. This training should cover topics such as differentiated instruction, classroom management, and creating inclusive learning environments.

3. Provide Accessibility and Accommodations: Institutes should ensure that their physical infrastructure, learning resources, and support services are accessible to students with disabilities. This may involve installing ramps, providing assistive technologies, offering alternative format materials (e.g., braille, large print, audio), and providing reasonable accommodations during assessments and exams.

4. Foster Inclusive Campus Culture: Creating an inclusive campus culture is essential for promoting diversity, equity, and belonging. Institutes should organize awareness campaigns, workshops, and events that celebrate diversity and promote understanding and respect for different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. Additionally, implementing inclusive policies and providing training on cultural competence and disability awareness can help create a more inclusive environment.

5. Collaborate with Stakeholders: Involve various stakeholders, such as students, faculty, disability support services, and community organizations, in the planning and implementation of inclusive education strategies. Collaborate with these groups to identify barriers, gather feedback, and develop tailored solutions to address the diverse needs of learners.

6. Promote Peer Support and Mentoring: Establish peer support and mentoring programs that encourage students to learn from and support one another. These programs can foster a sense of community, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and provide additional support for students who may require assistance.

7. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive education strategies through student feedback, data analysis, and ongoing research. Use this information to identify areas for improvement and continuously refine and adapt strategies to better meet the evolving needs of diverse learners.

By implementing these strategies, teacher trainee institutes can create more inclusive and equitable learning environments, better prepare future educators to support diverse learners, and contribute to the overall goal of promoting inclusive education at all levels.