Research update

I began research today between classes, and I think I got a pretty good start. I'm using this blog to organize my links and describe the general idea behind each article. Notes will be taken by hand at a later date - this is more of a reference page for myself.

Articles Regarding Education in the Classroom:

1. Education:
A) Teachers rate inclusiveness on the success of education for special Ed. and "normal" students
-Avalon and therapeutic riding define inclusiveness - handicapped students work hand in hand with "normal" volunteers?
B) Reasons given for why inclusiveness is good, as well as research as to why, in practice, students with disabilities aren't included. Article includes explanations as to why a lack of inclusiveness has a detrimental affect on education.
-Practical classroom research; why the separation of students makes learning more difficult and why the separation of students is a very real occurrence
C) Comparative study of a traditional math education approach (link unavailable) (one teacher lectures in front of a classroom) with a small peer group educational approach (teacher lectures are combined with peer interactions) in Special Education Settings
-In classrooms: will I observe a more lecture setting as compared to the peer education setting at Avalon?


2. Therapeutic Riding
A) General explanation of Hippo therapy
B) Distinction/Definition of Learning Disabilities as well as the role of horses as the "Great Equalizers" - comparison of peer interactions (where students in the classroom are ostracized and horses are non-judging peers)
C) Therapeutic Riding as an Educational Tool: research from a parent's perspective about the effectiveness and possible reasons for effectiveness of therapeutic riding
D) Study of effectiveness of hippo therapy on language when compared to traditional therapy
-Excellent article, with charts, comparing therapies

I plan to use the education articles to review how Special Education is taught both traditionally (segregated classrooms) and inclusively (an innovative new approach). The articles seem to show that inclusive education is much more effective; it encourages interactions between special education students and their "normal" peers, raising self-confidence and leading to a quicker, more thorough learning experience. Because I feel (and research shows) that hippo therapy represents the ultimate in inclusive education, these articles back up the idea that peer-peer interactions on horseback are partly responsible for the ease of education as compared on horseback to the classroom. The language used when peer-peer interactions include those of "normal" ability has a tendency to increase self confidence, thus increasing learning ability. All the articles seem to tie self confidence very tightly into learning, so I'll have to include this in my proposal and final project.

My proposal, again, (to remind myself) is that by instrumenting peer-peer interactions with normal and Special Education students, the language is such that acceptance is felt, and self confidence is increased. This, in turn, improves learning capabilities and the general attitude toward learning. My research, then, will show that therapeutic riding represents an inclusive environment where these peer-peer interactions can take place. It will also show, comparatively within the classroom, how inclusive learning matches up with traditional education. I'm hoping that this will show that the interactions in traditional education (Special ed students only interact with Special Ed. students and their teachers - a clear cut authority figure) lead to a language, that, while one of acceptance, is only acceptance within the segregated classroom. Acceptance is not felt within the overall community; this does not improve self confidence, and thus harms learning. The language of the interactions in the inclusive and traditional settings play a very concrete role in the self confidence felt by the student, and therefore, in the learning experienced by the student.

I think I need to ask Dave about that paragraph before I go ahead and tackle a proposal. This seems like a different direction, and I don't feel concrete about my ideas anymore. Ick.