Abstract
M.Ed. (Computer-Based Education)
This research was undertaken at a school for Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) by a
MEd student. The situation with LSEN learners is extremely complex as they have diverse needs as a
result of the medical, situational and educational barriers to learning that they experience. It involves
the design, development and implementation of a computerised LSEN Learner Information system
that will give the educators in-depth knowledge about the LSEN learner to give them the wisdom to
design an individualised LSEN curriculum which is in line with the vision of Educational White Paper 6
(EWP6). EWP6 acknowledges that the problems lie within the educational system and not within the
learner and that these barriers must be removed so that all learners have access to education
regardless of what barriers to learning they have. This research highlights and addresses these
systemic barriers in the design of the LSEN Learner Information System. The Screening,
Identification, Assessment and Support document (SIAS) forms the basis of this system as it is used to
implement EWP6 and has been used in the design of the individual documents.
The current South African legislation provided the vision for LSEN education. The current educational
situation provided the reality; these two situations are far apart. There is no adapted curriculum to suit
the diverse needs of the LSEN learner. No policies, guidelines or documents exist to assist the LSEN
educators. They are confused and discouraged as they are expected to implement mainstream
systems that cannot be used with LSEN learners. There is limited support for these educators.
The research has been undertaken using Grounded Theory methods, an inductive research
methodology, which starts with little else than the research question. It commences with the collection
of data from the empirical situation and uses this data to create operational documents and systems
that could result in theories being developed. Data was collected from the current LSEN educational
system, from the diverse needs of the LSEN learner and from the situation at the research school.
This data was used to design LSEN documents that resulted in a number of valuable computerised
LSEN documents and systems being developed in this research. These include an LSEN Learner
Database, an LSEN Learner Profile and supporting documents.
The research shows that the LSEN situation is extremely complex and that each LSEN learner
requires an individualised curriculum plan. This is not possible to do using a manual system; therefore
an ICT (Information and Communications Technology) solution was implemented. This system gives
the educator a full knowledge of the learner's needs that can be used to develop the curriculum
needed for the individual learner.
The research concludes with an LSEN dream of an individualised curriculum that will be designed in
the -next stage- of the research using data that has been collected -in this stage of the research. This
research does not provide a theory but rather highlights the need for an LSEN specific teaching
methodology to be developed.