Inclusive Assessment in Italy
For a better welcome of pupils with special needs
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
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Key features
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As a general rule, the italian system of education,
including pupils with special needs in compulsory and
common classes, promotes a concept of assessment to
point out which is the starting level of the pupil in
order to develop his/her abilities, even if they could be
limited.
It’s legal to use specific didactical aids chosen by teachers
in order to verify the pupil’s level not observable via
traditional oral or written examinations.
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
2
Key features
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For specific subjects, the evaluation of the results is a task of
the subject’s teacher. The equivalence of tests and evidences
displays that the pupil with special need have gained
knowledge and understanding at the end of the sc. Y. and
consequently he/she has acquired the same rights of the
other to pass to the next class or to obtain a qualification
valid for all legal purposes
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
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Key features
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The assessment of the starting level is expected for
all pupils, without distinctions, and it aims to have
notice of pupil’s growth and learning abilities through
standards of level. Of course, the general assessment
of pupils unable to see is possible only with specific
visual aids.
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
4
Cultural Prompts
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With pupils with difficulty in seeing, it’s crucial to check that
the aim of the test is understood by the pupil himself,
considering also the modalities of presentation and the
materials that he will use (tactile aids for specific tasks).
the assessment intends to make easier the professional startup in order to find a job fitting to own project of life or to
follow further studies.
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
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Cultural Prompts
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In a inclusive system of reference, the acquisition of
knowledge is seen as essential to build the sense of self,
the self-esteem, to plan a project of life and it’s important
as the social skills.
The rationale applied by an italian teacher to the
assessment of blind pupils, as for any kind of special need,
is totally linked to the person as unity in which the training
is a fundamental part of the growth.
Both the parameters combine the final grading. So it could
be very negative an insufficient result in the assessment of
the social skills.
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
6
Criteria and Tools of Assessment
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In the set of evaluation tests at disposition of teachers,
some are particularly important: those tools that allow
teachers to assess the relational experience of the pupil.
These tools, used by support and staff teachers, thanks to
a rationale observation of the pupils, help to clarify
different aspects as:
pupil’s approaches and personal behavior tending to
isolation (stereotypes, jerks, posture);
low level of speaking, irrelevant to the social and
environmental situation;
persistently use of terms owns to visual sense;
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
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Criteria and Tools of Assessment
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not meaningful use of speeches to classmates and adults;
clumsy answers to questions or negative assertions about
his/her visual condition;
inappropriate personal initiatives despite the facts;
In these part of assessment, it’s necessary to consider that,
particularly for blind children, the performance could be
lower respect the foreseen level due the lack of experience
or learning opportunities, background or ordeals, or affected
by limits to the developmental chances of the pupil itself.
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
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concluding……
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In Italy, assessment means to know which are the pupil’s
conditions in relation to his/her learning abilities,
competences and social skills in order to enforce as possible
any opportunities for a better growth.
This idea of assessment is based on a process of inclusion
that Italy doesn’t find in the existence of special schools.
For instance, the same IEP brings in different contexts and
environments results different.
In this respect and on this way, the Italian system of
education tries to make easier and more satisfying the
future access to the adult life.
Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione
Dipartimento per l'Istruzione
Direzione Generale per lo
Studente, l'Integrazione, la
Partecipazione e la Comunicazione
9