Kishore's paper accepted for Int'l Conf highlights cultural linkage of festival for learning by CWSN

The paper of lead researcher Dr Lalit Kishore assisted by Palak Singhi at Disha Foundation in Jaipur got accepted for the international conference in the United States held in January 2021. Special educator Vibhanshu Gaur helped in transaction of lesson study and providing feedback which worked as data for analysis.

"Congratulations! The Hawaii International Conference on Education is pleased to inform you that your submission, “LINKING CULTURE TO LEARNING FOR CHILDREN

WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: MICRO-LEARNING BASED LESSON STUDY ON INDIAN FESTIVALS OF COLOURS”, has been accepted for presentation at the 19th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education to be held from January 4 to January 7, 2021 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The decision to accept your submission was based on a peer review process," informed the conference coordinator.

Abstract of the study goes as follows:

A lesson study related to cultural linkage of the Indian festival of colours – Holi – was undertaken for language development of a child with special needs. The objectives of the lesson study were: (1) To develop a micro-learning based research lesson for Hindi language learning of a child with Cerebral Palsy (age: 9 years; above average IQ; grade two; male); and; (2) To transact the research lesson to adapt it as part of syllabus of grade two Hindi for similar situation. The methodology of clinical lesson study (one-on-one; micro-learning episodes with protocols) was used for the research. The research lesson with triangulated intrinsic validity was the tool for the study which was reviewed by organizing a mini focus group and fine-tuned. Also, teacher training modification was implicated in the study along with a teacher handbook on the lesson with content, learning task sheets and procedure for use to teach culture-linked Hindi in a special school.

Keywords: Children with special needs, culture-linked learning, curriculum adaptation, language development, lesson study, micro-learning

According the lead researcher, the CWSN are needed to be provided with extra time on learning tasks and festivals provide the opportunity for deep learning. Turning festivals into celebratory events makes no sense to CWSN since they have low levels of self-awareness and cognitive skills, the celebrations are of no consequence to them excepts reinforcing their lower instincts from which they are required to be weaned away.