1991 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Teacher Education to Enhance the Quality of Special Education

Research Project

Project/Area Number	02451032
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Educaion
Research Institution	University of Tsukuba
Principal Investigator	MISAWA Giichi Inst. of Special Education, Professor, 心身障害学系, 教授 (40024418)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	KUSANAGI Shinro Inst. of Special Education, Professor, 心身障害学系, 教授 (80036409) SEO Masao Inst. of Special Education, Professor, 心身障害学系, 教授 (50114096)
Project Period (FY)	1990 – 1991
Keywords	Teacher Education for Special Education / In-service Training for Special Education / Awareness of Special Education Teacher / Teacher Education for Handicapped Children
Research Abstract	This investigation was intended to clarify present status of teacher education for special education and finally, to enhance its quality. The main results were as follows, 1. Teacher training at the teacher training universities We conducted an investigation to clarify the current state and problems in the education curriculum for teacher of handicapped children as provided at national universities and to study how these teacher should be trained in the future. We received response from 26 of 51 universities. As a result of survey, teacher education in the field of special education still faces many problems showing far from ideal. It should be pointed out that improvement of such state is serious problem. 2. On-site training for special education teachers We conducted present status of on-site education for special education teachers in each prefecture including designated cities. The response ratio vas 62% or 35 prefectures throughout the nation. Each board of education provides diversified teacher education programs. The current on-site education programs for special education teachers are not altogether ideal when the systematic factors and extensive factors are considered. However, effort seems to have been made to enhance such weak points. 3. Study on the awareness of teachers engaged in special education We carried out a questionnaire survey of teachers at special schools. Total number of respondents were 661. Only noticeable results were given here. (1) Teacher's most strong interest was increased degree of severe handicaps and teaching method. (2) Majority of opinions showed that the practice teaching at university level seemed most important and helpful. (3) Special education teachers showed different characteristics depending upon the type of schools at which they are engaged.