Special eduaction needs experts as part of the expert team in the mainstream elementary school : assessment of professional competencies, extent and organisation of work

Abstract

Cilj ovog istraživanja je analizirati procjenu edukacijskih rehabilitatora – stručnih suradnika zaposlenih u redovnoj osnovnoj školi o vlastitom opsegu posla (radne obaveze i zadaci) te profesionalnim kompetencijama potrebnim za rad na radnom mjestu na kojem su zaposleni. Svrha istraživanja je dobivenu perspektivu stručnjaka integrirati s već poznatim informacijama o identitetu edukacijsko-rehabilitacijske struke i kompetencijskom profilu stručnjaka kako bi se stvorila baza znanja koje može pomoći u unapređivanju struke kroz kvalitetniji probir pojedinaca, obrazovanje studenata te osiguravanje kvalitetnije usluge koju pružaju stručnjaci u praksi. Informacije dobivene istraživanjem također mogu pomoći u boljem razumijevanju poteškoća s kojima se susreću stručnjaci u praksi te osvještavanju njihovih potreba. U istraživanju su sudjelovala 42 edukacijska rehabilitatora zaposlena u redovnim osnovnim školama u Republici Hrvatskoj na radnom mjestu stručnog suradnika. U okviru deskriptivnog znanstveno-istraživačkog pristupa, prikupljeni su podaci koji se tiču opterećenja na radnom mjestu i opsega posla, suradnje na radnom mjestu, profesionalnih kompetencija, zadovoljstva fakultetskim obrazovanjem te stručnog usavršavanja. Dobivene informacije predstavljaju doprinos prilikom definiranja identiteta struke te ishoda podučavanja koji će osigurati da stručnjaci koji se obrazuju i rade u praksi posjeduju kompetncije nužne za visokokvalitetan rad u praksi.The aim of the research presented in this paper is to analyze how the special educational needs experts who work as part of the expert team in the mainstream elementary schools assessed the extent of their work (job duties and tasks) and professional competencies needed to perform the work they do. The purpose of this research is to integrate the perspective given by participants with already-known information about educational rehabilitation profession identity and competency profile of the experts in order to create the knowledge base that can help to improve the profession through better selection of the individuals, better education of the students and insuring quality service form practitioners. Information obtained by the research can also help to better understand difficulties practitioners face and to bring awareness to their needs. There are 42 participants in the research, all of whom are special educational needs experts working as part of the expert team in the mainstream elementary schools in Croatia. Within the descriptive scientific and research method, data has been gathered regarding intensity and extent of work, collaboration, professional competencies, level of satisfaction with the college education and professional development. Information gathered represent contribution to defining professional identity and educational outcomes that will ensure that the educating and working professionals will possess competencies needed to provide high-quality service