The Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) is a structured observation instrument. It has been developed to support high-quality early childhood inclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities. The aim of this study is to examine the cultural validity of the instrument in Swedish preschools and to investigate its perceived usefulness in a Swedish preschool context. Ten special educators, who conducted professional dialogues with preschool teachers and other preschool staff members in a Swedish municipality, were enrolled. The instrument was compared with the Swedish national curriculum for the preschool, and the perceptions of special educators were collected by way of dialogue seminar method. Thematic analyses were conducted. The results of the study show that the instrument, with few exceptions, is valid in Sweden, and that the instrument can be useful for special educators conducting professional dialogues about early childhood inclusion with preschool teachers and other preschool staff members. The study has relevance for those who work with early childhood inclusion in Sweden as well as elsewhere, and for those who plan to validate the instrument and investigate its perceived usefulness in a context pertinent to them. High-quality inclusion is on the agenda in many nations, and a Sustainable Development Goal.
In Swedish preschool and school classrooms, all children should be offered an education that includes instruction and digital devices. The instruction should be meaningful and interesting for all children, and the digital devices should facilitate teachers’ work and children’s learning. This study concerns differentiated instruction as well as uses and possible benefits gained by digital devices in Swedish preschools and school classrooms. The study is part of a large-scale co-produc-tion project between academy and the surrounding society. Sixty-seven teachers and head-teachers, who value digital devices, participated, and shared their experiences and views on these two matters. A qualitative research approach, including research circles and thematic analyses, was used. The themes prove, for example, the importance of acknowledging children’s interests, joint exploration, provision of parallel support as well as extra challenges, association to children’s previous experi-ences and integration of digital devices of various kind. The result of the study can form a basis for interesting preschool and school discussions. It has relevance for teachers and head-teachers in training, researchers in special education as well as for those who are interested in differentiated instruction and the integration of digital devices.
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