Tina O'Neill, an expert in urban education and special education, is leading six urban education students on their first short-term study abroad program to Ghana during the last two weeks of May. This new partnership with the Indiana University School of Education in Indianapolis, the University of Ghana, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology will provide Ghanaian educators with professional development opportunities in inclusive education, while also providing opportunities for urban development in a global context. It will broaden IU students' perspectives on education. .
“The world is becoming more urbanized, and cities are becoming more densely populated,” said Tambra Jackson, dean of the IU School of Education in Indianapolis. “Urban centers have unique challenges, and that extends to education.
“A common barrier is resources, but it's not just a U.S. issue. It's a global issue. Our work focused on urban education is an international issue, and we're committed to sharing our expertise. and have the opportunity to learn from people from all over the world.”
In Ghana, barriers to education include access and infrastructure, particularly for learners with disabilities. A clinical assistant professor of special education, O'Neal has focused her career on promoting inclusive education in K-12 so that all children have access to high-quality instruction, support, and intervention.
“In 2015, Ghana enacted an inclusive education policy similar to the United States' Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” O'Neill said. “But we need professional development for teachers and resources on how to meet the needs of diverse learners.”
Ghana's inclusive education policy focuses particularly on learners with special needs, such as those with disabilities, those who are economically disadvantaged, and those who belong to linguistic, ethnic, gender, geographical or religious minorities. The emphasis is on As a result, all aspects of education, including curriculum and teaching methods, provide opportunities to foster inclusion.
O'Neal will travel for two weeks with five undergraduate students and one graduate student from the IU Graduate School of Education in Indianapolis. Undergraduate students will observe and interview Ghanaian teachers as part of independent research that they will present upon returning to campus. Graduate student assistants assist O'Neill with logistics and administrative support, undergraduate student engagement, assessment and evaluation, and communications. Some of their stops include Mampong Demonstration School for the Deaf (Demodef), Echoing Hills Village Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre, Empowerment of Children with Disabilities, Garden City Special School, Future Leaders School and Legon University Basic School. included.
With support from a Sustainable Development Goals grant from the IU Indianapolis Office of International Affairs, O'Neal and Jackson are planning a 2023 study abroad program to lay the foundation for a study abroad program and establish relationships with K-12 schools and universities. I went on an exploration trip in July. After the trip, the office appointed O'Neill as a faculty fellow for the 2023-24 academic year, helping the School of Education expand its study abroad efforts overall.
When O'Neill designed the Ghana study abroad program, he knew it was important for IU-educated students to understand and appreciate this country's history and culture.
“Inclusive education is not limited to supporting primary school students with disabilities, but encourages us to engage with learners holistically, including understanding their cultural background,” O'Neill said. “We want to help IU Education students understand the importance of intersectionality and develop cultural competency.”
In preparation for their trip to Ghana, IU Education students were required to take an introductory African studies course taught by Oladele Omosegbon. They also planned to have a preparatory meeting with Professor O'Neill and invite speakers such as Nana Amoa-Lami, assistant professor of African studies at the University of Bloomington, and Eric Kier, associate professor of social work, to speak with participants.
“I learned so much through the classes and preparatory work,” said Elise Beard, a first-year urban education student. “This was the first time I learned more about the history of the transatlantic slave trade, African history, and Ghanaian culture.”
For Anya Brameh, an urban secondary English-medium student, the experience is also personal.
“My high school experience opened my eyes to the idea of pursuing career education because I want to improve education, especially for minority students,” she said. “Learning about the Black diaspora and how students from other cultures are taught will help me become the educator I want to be.”
Ebony Crow, Ph.D. in Urban Education Studies. The candidate is a graduate assistant in this program. She is also collaborating on a study called “Navigating new horizons: In-service teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education practices in Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana.”.”
“The purpose of my work is to explore in-service teachers' experiences and perceptions regarding inclusive education practices for students with disabilities in Ghana,” said Crowe. “While studying abroad, I explore how these educators interpret and work with inclusive education methods in different cultural contexts.
“My research aims to assess differences and similarities in inclusive practices between Ghana and the United States, enriching in-service teachers’ understandings and approaches to teaching diverse learners.” It will also contribute to broader discussions about global education and preparing teachers for diverse educational settings.”
However, there are financial barriers for students to access such international opportunities. The school's Dean's Fund for Teaching Excellence and Innovation helped fill the gap.
“The Ghana Study Abroad program is perfectly aligned with our mission and we are raising funds to support our students,” Jackson said. “Funding is a big hurdle for urban students, so we wanted to make sure this trip was affordable for them. He played an important role in delivering the goods.”
After this trip, O'Neill plans to continue the partnership. They have a three-year agreement with a partner in Ghana that will expand the scope of the program with each cycle, helping IU students and practicing educators understand urban education in a global context, and helping IU faculty improve inclusive education. provides additional opportunities for conducting research.
“IU has determined that international work is important to the work we are trying to do,” Jackson said. “We have a strategic pillar of ‘Service to the Nation and Beyond,’ and this is where we go.”