Developing Signalong Indonesia: issues of happiness and pedagogy, training and stigmatisation

ABSTRACT

Signalong Indonesia (SI), a key word signing approach, was created to support the development of Indonesian inclusive schools. A mixed methods approach collected data about teacher’s beliefs and experiences regarding SI from the first two schools to pilot it. Thirty-two teachers completed questionnaires, followed by interviews with nine teachers. Three themes emerged: understanding the nature of SI, the stigmatisation of signers and its reporting by teachers, and the nature of happiness in inclusive pedagogy. The latter reveals, for the first time, the importance of Suka as a culturally mediated intrinsic part of Indonesian inclusive pedagogy. The findings suggest recommendations about SI materials and training, and indicate a new research area regarding inclusive pedagogies within different cultures.

KEYWORDS:

• Key word signing
• inclusive pedagogy
• happiness
• stigmatisation
• Indonesia
• Signalong Indonesia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Budiyanto is an active researcher and advocate for inclusive education within Indonesia. He is a senior lecturer at the State University of Suraya (UNESA) and supervises research and teacher training. He researches with international colleagues on projects that aim to have a positive and practical impact on the opportunities and experiences of disabled learners.

Prof. Kieron Sheehy researches and teaches within the broad field of inclusive education, often focusing on how teaching approaches or services can be developed to successfully support diverse groups of learners. He has a particular interest in addressing issues for those who might be stigmatised and excluded within educational systems.

Dr Helen Kaye is a senior lecturer at the Open University, UK, where she teaches psychology. Her research interests are in the field of learning and her recent work has investigated factors influencing university student learning.

Khofidotur Rofiah, S.Pd., M.Pd., is a lecturer at Surabaya State University. (UNESA), where she supervises educational research students and teaches on special education courses.