Diversity and Educational Environments

As you can see from the title, this chapter is about the environment in which teaching and learning occur: Where we are today in terms of the delivery of education is at least partly the result of historical developments and government responses to the needs of young people and reactions to the political pressures. The previous chapter provided a background to these influences. Here, we explore the context and the factors that lead to successful learning and problem-solving. In this chapter you will learn about: •some of the historical place-markers in the treatment and education of people with diverse learning needs; •how disability is defined; •the place of giftedness and talent in the presentation of diversity; •the importance of self-perception and identity in school systems around Australia; and •the teaching-learning ecology that governs successful learning outcomes.