Methodology
Methodology
By drawing from the MSC technique, we have started to identify what changes have made all the difference for our stakeholders in the school. Nevertheless, a technique risks becoming empty if used without an approach. By drawing from the systemic approach, such as the social model of disability, we have learnt to focus on the environmental barriers existing in our school contexts and in general in our education systems.
The Most Significant Change (MSC)
Core Pillars
Narrative-Focused: It collects "stories of change" from those directly involved (students, teachers, and leaders) to identify a program's real-world impact.
Participatory & Collaborative: Stakeholders work together to analyze these stories, fostering a shared understanding of success and purpose.
Adaptive & Insightful: By prioritising qualitative reflection over rigid metrics, it reveals unexpected outcomes and rich, context-specific patterns for improvement. The 'narrative' approach within the MSC becomes a fundamental resource for our Erasmus Inclusion stories project, as it sets the scene for learning from exemplary stories of inclusion in education. Different stakeholders’ points of view are collected and analysed. Stories are collected from those stakeholders who were directly involved in the field and were requested to identify ‘what was, in their opinion, the most significant change that took place’. The stories are selected according to significant examples of change that occurred, as emerged from the stakeholders’ professional reflections.
Reflection as tool for Professional Development
Reflection serves as a vital catalyst for sustained professional development by transforming everyday work experiences into rich opportunities for learning and growth. It moves beyond simple observation, requiring professionals to critically analyse their actions, decisions, and subsequent outcomes to deeply understand the "why" behind their practices. Find out more about our 'Reflection Rounds.'
collecting.
reflecting.
revising.
disseminating.
The Importance of Storytelling
The OECD’s Education 2025 initiative emphasise the importance of storytelling in shaping future education trends by collecting narratives from teachers worldwide.
- Enhances reflective practice by developing self-awareness.
- Builds collaborative learning communities among educators.
- Translates abstract educational theories into practical classroom experiences.
- Deepens awareness of inclusion and diversity by exposing teachers to different cultural nuances.
- Fosters teacher agency and innovation by validating expertise and encouraging new methods.
The Relational Model
Looking at the interaction
As we state in our Credo, we believe that sustainable inclusion is rooted in a relational perspective. This perspective provides the common theoretical foundation for how we explore and understand the stories collected in our project.
The relational perspective starts from a simple idea: difficulties do not exist only within the individual. They emerge in the interaction between the individual and the environment.
This represents an important shift in perspective.
Traditionally, disability and difficulties have often been understood through a medical model. From this perspective, the problem is primarily located within the individual. The response is therefore often to diagnose, remediate, compensate or provide individual adjustments.
The relational model asks us to look wider. Instead of asking:
“What is wrong with this student, and how can we fix it?”
we ask:
“What is happening in the interaction between this student and the learning environment – and what can we change?”
This way of thinking is closely connected to the understanding of disability expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006): disability arises through the interaction between individuals and the attitudinal and environmental barriers that may hinder their participation.