STUDY
TOUR:
"Special Education in Russia" Moscow–Yaroslavl, March 22-31,
2001
The
following is a description of the Special Education in Russia study
tour arranged in March, 2001. If you are interested in learning more
about upcoming study tour opportunities in Russia, please contact:
Stephen G. Viola, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
8001 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121 USA
Phone: 314-5216-5332
E-Mail: viola@umsl.edu
Introduction
Welcome to the program: "Special Education in Russia." We are delighted
that you have joined our group. Wehope that your participation in
the visits to the various establishments, and in the meetings with
their experts, will prove useful in your work. We hope that you will
get acquainted with some Russian culture and will make some new friends.The
program has been prepared by teachers of the Moscow Institute of Psychology
and Pedagogic. They have arranged for the most respected experts,
from the various practicing establishments, to take part in the program.
The individuals have contributed a lot of effort into the practical
realization of the ideas emanating from Russian scientists involved
in special education. We thank you for your participation.
The
Methodology
The methodology of special education and general strategy of development
of the child with problems is constructed on a following basis:
- Historico-cultural
concepts of Vygotskiy L. S. according to which extraphychical (that
between the subjects, external) becomes intraphychical (that is appropriated
by the subject, internal);
- States
of Vygotskiy L. S. about a zone of the approximate development of
the child as virtual space, in which the transition is carried out
from a current level of child’s development to a potential level;
- The
theory of activity of Leontyev A. N. according to which the activity
at first acts as conscious action, and in process of its formation
becomes a function;
- The
stage theory of the formation of intellectual actions of Galperin
P. Ya., according to which the formation of mental functions occurs
on the basis of subject action, goes from material performance, and
through the speech form passes into the intellectual plan;
- V. Shtern’s
convergence theory and social learning concept, giving a substantiation
of the discrete and integrated training of the children with problems
in development.
Program
Information The
Institute of Psychology and Pedagogic
The Institute was established in 1990 as one of the first non-state
higher education establishments. It has 4 faculties and 7 departments,
and specializes in training of psychologists and special needs teachers.Studies
of the theoretical heritage of Vygotskiy L. S., Luria A. R. and Leontyev
A. N. occupy a considerable place in the program of the Institute.Today
the IPP is attended by more than 600 students. The majority of them
have been studying in absentia. Students of Tumen and Volgograd use
distance larning with the help of "case" technologies. Some of the features
of the Institute:
- Wide
spectrum of specialization
- professional
practice
- practical
orientation in training methods
- use
of group training.
Students
study fundamental theory and techniques through practical work. Significant
attention is paid to encouraging the personal growth of the future experts.Graduates
pass the state exam and defend the graduation paper. Graduates of the
Institute work in educational establishments, health and social support
services (schools, kindergartens, clinics, rehabilitation centers).
Department
of Scientific Programs
Department
of scientific programs is engaged in elaboration of educational concepts,
concerning Siberia and North regions; our center works on the State
program "Child of Chernobyl."
Department
of Consulting Services for People
Sessions
with children and adults, who have problems are held in our institute
(diagnostics of impairments, psychological rehabilitation).
Publishing
Department
We create and publish methodical materials for teaches, psychologists,
special educators and parents.
The
Staff
The leading specialists of Moscow work in our institute, including psychologists,
educationalists, psychotherapists, special educators (defectologist),
speech-therapists, scientists and practical workers. The founder and
the scientific leader of the institute is Olga Usanova, a famous special
educationalist and psychologist. She is well-known in Russia and abroad.
Achievements
More than 600 students in the period of 10 years took the course of
advanced studies.Every
year there are 2-3 conferences and seminars (with more than 150 participants)
performed at the Institute. The participants are mainly teachers, school
psychologists and workers from children establishments. The most appreciated
subject is the problem of who could and how could we help children with
development disorders.More
than 4000 teachers, psychologists and speech-therapists have raised
the level of their skill.In
1993 (September 19-21) the first international Congress was held on
the problems of early identification, prevention and correction of developmental
impairments in children (700 participants from 6 countries) together
with Moscow pedagogical University with the help of the Ministry of
education.Our
Institute has made a child psychologist room, which includes an architectural
design, description of all kinds of equipment and interior and methodical
materials for psychologists to work as well as with children of different
ages and parents and teachers.Our
specialists have created Psychologist’s Case, which contains practical
materials for diagnostics and correction of developmental psychological
impairments.We
have been working on the program of rendering the children with behavioral
problems assistance.Our
achievements may be seen at different exhibitions in Russia. Besides,
we have state rewards for our works.
International
contacts
We maintain contacts with German specialists as well as specialists
from Sweden, USA, Japan, China, Switzerland, Czech.
We have an experience of cooperation with Institutions and Rehabilitation
Centers of Usbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus.
The
Schedule
Day 1: March 22.
Thursday 20.05; Arrival at Sheremetyevo-II airport. 22.00; Accommodation
in hotel Russia.
Day
2: March 23.
Friday. Depart from the Hotel at 09.15
Visit to comprehensive school no. 610 (3 persons)
To gain
acquaintance with the current system of education in a comprehensive
school. Children with developmental problems in a comprehensive school.
Inclusive education. Visit to one of the lessons in the remedial class.
Watching a performance f the children's theatre of movement.
Visit
to the Humanitarian grammar school. (3 persons)
 To
gain acquaintance with the system of training in a humanitarian grammar
school. Discussion with a psychologist. Discussion on the
problems of adapting psychological tests. Discussion on
the problems with remote training. Getting acquainted with
computer aided school education
14.00;
Lunch at the school.
14.00-17.00; Rest, walk.
17.00-19.00; Visit to the library. Discussion about the program for
the visit.
Buffet. A concert of the professional choral theatre.
19.00-20.00; Dinner.
Day
3: March 24,
Saturday. Depart from the Hotel at 09.15. Visit the rehabilitation center
To gain acquaintance with the complex help provided to invalid children.Visit
to the rehabilitation center for early age children.
Discussion
on the issues surrounding the provision of remote help to families with
early age children who have developmental problems.
14.00;
Lunch.
15.00-17.30; Excursion around Moscow.
18.00; Circus performance
20.30; Dinner.
Day
4: March 25,
Sunday. Depart from the Hotel at 09.45. 10.00; Tretyakov gallery. 14.00;
Lunch. 15.00; Walk to Red Square. Visit to the Kremlin. 18.00; Dinner
with the family.
Day
5: March 26,
Monday. Depart from the Hotel at 08.40. Visit
to an educational complex: a "school-kindergarten" for children with
speech infringements. To gain acquaintance with the work of the complex.
Visit to a speech therapist's lesson. A "round table" discussion.13.00;
Lunch.14.00-15.30;
Visiting IPP. Meeting with students.16.00-18.00;
Visiting the exhibition center. Shopping.19.00;
Musical theatre.21.30;
Dinner.
Day
6: March 27,
Tuesday. Final departure from the hotel at 8.30 Set off towards Yaroslavl.
10.30; Visit a school for deaf-dumb-blind children in Sergiev Posad.
 14.00;
Lunch. 15.30; Visit an architectural reserve and Laure. 17.00; Depart
for Yaroslavl. 21.00; Arrive in Yaroslavl. Accommodation in the hotel.
Dinner.
Day
7: March 28,
Wednesday. Depart from the Hotel at 9.20 A
visit to children's complex: a "kindergarten-school" with rehabilitation
facilities for visually impaired children.
For the
technologists: A visit to the center of new information technologies.
13.00; Lunch.
14.00; excursion around Yaroslavl
17.30; dinner
19.00 -concert hall.
Day
8: March 29,
Thursday. Depart from Hotel at 09.20 A visit to boarding school #82.
To
gain acquaintance with the system of training and social adaptation
of children with profound intellectual retardation.
13.00; Lunch 14.00;
Visit to the museums "Russian icon" and "Music and time." Gain acquaintance
with the work of modern Yaroslavl artists.
18.00; dinner in the restaurant.
19.00; Musical jazz school; the first in Russia.
Day
9: March
30,
Friday. Depart from the Hotel at 09.30. A visit to the rehabilitation
centre "Development."
To gain
acquaintance with the system of support and assistance provided to children
with special educational needs and their families. To gain acquaintance
with one of the rehabilitation techniques13.00
– Lunch.
14.00 – Nunery on Tolga.
19.00 – Farewell banquet. Presentation of certificates.
Day
10: March 31.
Saturday. Departure to Moscow at 9.00.
Detailed
information about the establishments
March
23, Friday
Comprehensive School No. 610
The
school has been existing since 1930. The new building has been constructed
for it in the center of Moscow recently. Their remedial classes for
tutoring of the children with problems in development and difficulties
in studying have been organized in this school.The purpose of the work
with the children in such classes – to compensate the limitations
of preschool development of children, to increase their efficiency,
to activate cognitive ability, to correct negative features of an emotional
and control spheres of mentality. The detailed complex assessment by
different experts (the psychologist, doctor, speech therapist, and special
teacher) is provided for children while entering this class. Children
study specially developed for them programs in this class. When determining
the contents of the programs the main attention of experts is given
to preventive maintenance and early correction of lag in development,
some children have in preschool age or on the first stages of tutoring.The
ideas of L. S. Vygotskiy about "a zone of the approximate development"
of the child are used in this work. If these children are displaying
stable achievements, they are transferring back to the mainstream class.
Guests will get acquainted with the programs the school works with,
will take part in one of the lessons in remedial class, will be offered
to watch the children’s small show. The guests will be able to
discuss the problems of the inclusive education with colleagues from
that school at the round table.Principal of the school – Galina
Novikova.The program will be represented by school psychologist, senior
faculty of the IPP – Natalie Garkina.
The
Humanitarian grammar school
This
Grammar school is a new type of educational establishment whose training
programs are directed towards achieving a high level of educational
achievement for all pupils. One of the main aims of the school is to
prepare pupils for continuing their education in higher educational
institutions through developing their personality and fostering positive
constructive attitudes. The main feature of the humanitarian grammar
school is its serious study of the Russian language. Most of the teachers
take part in research programs, and the school participates in the joint
program between IPP and UMSL. The participants in this group will gain
acquaintance with the results of this school’s joint programs
with UMSL.The school director is Nadejda Sharai, a candidate of Pedagogical
Sciences.Yan Vedenko, a chartered psychologist, presents the program.
March
24, Saturday
Rehabilitation center for children with developmental problems
The
center was founded by the Children’s Foundation of Russia: who
provide help to invalid children. One of the goals of the center is
to prepare children for integration into society.L. S. Vygotskiy has
said that physical disability (blindness, deafness, amentia) is manifested
as a socially inadequate behavior. Therefore, he has suggested we consider
such disability as a social problem: because the issues surrounding
the social interaction of these children are in fact the most important.
Children have the opportunity to get help and support in the center,
in a way that enables them to adapt more easily in society. The center
arranges various kinds of experts to provide help. Each child has an
individual remedial plan. The center’s experts foster cooperation
between parents and teachers.Guests will attend a lesson and gain acquaintance
with the particular ways of working with different categories of children.Principal
of the center: Olga BulanovaVice principal: Lilia Gulaeva
Social
and psychological help for early age children
The Center provides psychological help to families with children, aged
0 to 3 years, who are having developmental problems.Parents apply to
the center for help through the recommendation of the family doctor.
The center’s experts have developed new methods for early intervention
(diagnosis and remedial work).The center has been supplied with facilities
that enable it to provide some in-service training for the experts who
need to deal with early age children and their parents.Guests will discuss
the issues of distance education and the technical problems of cooperation
between IPP and UMSL.The head of the center: Valerii Yarygin.
March
26, Monday
School for children with speech infringements
Children with severe speech infringements attend this school. The educational
program of the school focuses on individual children’s speech
difficulties and the problems that can appear when they are learning
to write. The experts, who create the individual programs, work on the
principle that there is a close link between speech and other higher
mental functions. That is why the system of exercise used in lessons
is directed towards the development of the child’s mentality as
a whole. Children attend special lessons on speech development, correct
pronunciation and correct use of dialogue. Much time is also spent teaching
children to draw, dance and sing. All together this provides an efficient
corrective process, after which the majority of children are able to
enter mainstream school.During
our visit we will attend some lessons and have an excursion around the
school.The
head of the school: special needs teacher Elena EmelyanovaThe
lead speech therapist in the lessons: Larisa Aniskovich
March
27, Tuesday
Boarding school for children with complex disabilities
This is a unique school in Russia, where deaf, blind and dumb children
are brought up and taught. Children are taught to communicate, to write,
and to participate in various kinds of activity. The experts study in
detail the current capabilities of the children, and determine their
potential for further development. Children are taught in small groups,
and every child has his own individual education plan. Teaching is based
on the understanding that the child’s disability influences their
general development in all areas. Apart from their normal lessons, children
are involved in many creative activities, and enjoy games that encourage
specific areas of development. The majority of children live at the
school during all their years of study. After graduation, many children
continue their education in Colleges and Universities. You will gain
acquaintance with the achievements of the children during your visit.
The
head of the school: special needs teacher Aleksandr Fyodorov.The
deputy director Galina Epiphanova, presents the program.
March
28, Tuesday
"Kindergarten-School" complex: Inclusive education for visually impaired
children
The main function of the complex is to look after and educate children
aged from 2 to 7 years. The kindergarten has rehabilitation facilities
for visually impaired children, which is why a higher than usual proportion
of the children attending this kindergarten have problems with vision.
The educational process is undertaken in conditions of partial integration.Guests
will be invited to take part in a discussion on the "Professional interaction
between experts when providing early intervention assistance to children
with visual impairment."The
principal of the kindergarten: Kareva Valentina.The
special needs program teaching supervisor for the city, Marina Pavlova,
will present the program.
March
29, Thursday
Special boarding school #82
Boarding school #82 has 3 levels of educational program: covering children
with intellectual problems aged 11 to 18. Children are not taught traditional
subjects, but rather courses directed towards social adaptation. The
main mission of the school is the social and professional adaptation,
and rehabilitation, of children with health problems.There
are 9 working professional shops in the school, and the pedagogical
team provides training in 5 working professions: seamstress, carpenter,
footwear repair, barber and painting (as in decorating). Whilst living
and learning in the school, children receive significant support from
doctors, psychologists and speech therapists.The
school provides a solarium, massage therapy, physiotherapy, automobile
training and physical education therapy. Children have facilities for
artistic work: a chorus, folk ensemble, dancing, wooden spoon music
group, patch work, wicker-work, embroidery and leather work. Children
can also participate in various sports activities: tennis, shaping,
volleyball and athletics.The
principal of the school, an honored teacher of Russian Federation: Elvira
Mokshanceva.The
deputies of the principal: special needs teachers V. CHUMAKOVA and A.
SAVATEEVA will participate in the program.
March
30, Friday
Yaroslavl
rehabilitation center "Development"
The rehabilitation center arranges pedagogical and psychological help
for children at risk of school and social disadaptation.This
help is implemented via the following approaches:Through
diagnosis of the child’s problems, and consulting with the child’s
parents.Through
providing a consulting service for the teachers and providing additional
in-service special needs training.Through
developing and undertaking remedial programs for children.Through
developing and providing training for parents: to enable them to understand
and help their children.Guests
will be able to acquaint themselves with one of the center’s remedial
programs: one, which encourages student interest in reading through
technique borrowed from blind-damp-deal child education.Head
of the centre: special teacher Marina Pavlova.Representation
of the program: teacher of Russian language Irina Kopysheva
To learn
more about study tour opportunities in Russia, contact:
Stephen
G. Viola, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
8001 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121-4499 USA
314-516-5332 (office)
314-516-5227 (fax)
E-Mail:
viola@umsl.edu
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