Teaching Vocational Skills to Students with Low Functioning Disabilities

Abstract

Good teaching practices are important to ensure that the teaching and learning process runs smoothly and that the instructional goals set by the teacher can be achieved. The objective of this study is to explore the teaching practices of special education teachers when teaching vocational skills (VS) to students with low functioning disabilities (SLFD) and to determine what support they need to teach these students effectively. This study utilises the qualitative method in the form of a case study. A total of 8 special education teachers who teach VS to SLFD in the Muar district in Johor were interviewed. Data triangulation of the interviews and analysis of the teachers' lesson plan was implemented. Thematic analysis of the data show that the teachers have good teaching practices when teaching VS to SLFD. However, they did report a lack of knowledge and skills which led to challenges in managing the emotional and behaviour issues of these students. Support in empowerment and education in vocational subjects is very necessary in addition to financial support from various quarters in providing materials and tools to make vocational education a success. Therefore, for future research, it is suggested that the teaching practices of teachers focusing on specific vocational subjects SLFD be studied in more detail and the relationship between the teaching practices of teachers in vocational subjects and the individual education plan (IEP) of SLFD be investigated.