The I-CAN and NDIS support needs assessment: concerns and recommendations from the tool’s former lead author

Slovak Republic has accumulated significant experience in integrating digital technologies into the professional development of educators, and a systematic analysis of this experience could serve as a resource for modernising the Ukrainian system of postgraduate education. The aim of this article is to provide a theoretical analysis, systematisation and classification of digital technologies for professional development of educators in Slovakia and to justify a model for professional development of educators using digital technologies. General scientific methods such as analysis, classification and systematisation of the results of scientific publications, as well as content analysis of strategic and regulatory documents of the EU and the SR, were employed. The article highlights the results of national and international projects implemented at Comenius University in Bratislava, which are aimed at supporting the professional development of teachers in digital environment. Strategic and regulatory documents, project materials, methodological resources and practices developed within the framework of national and international initiatives have been analysed, with particular attention paid to the DiTEdu project and the digital professional development of educators. Based on the systematisation and comparative analysis of the identified practices, an original structural-functional model of professional development for educators using digital technologies has been developed, and a classification of the main types of digital tools used in the Slovak context has been proposed. The findings have made it possible to identify the key organisational, pedagogical and technological conditions for effective digital professional development, in particular personalised learning, blended formats, professional networking, learning using artificial intelligence, the development of digital competence and ongoing methodological support. Recommendations are proposed at the national, institutional and individual levels for Ukrainian postgraduate education regarding the implementation of the Slovak experience in the using of digital technologies in the professional development of educators.

This study aimed to analyze the tutor competency improvement strategy in implementing inclusive education at the Al-Ghozali Community Learning Center (PKBM) in Lubuk Banjar Village, Lubuk Raja District, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency. This study used a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. Data were obtained through interviews, observations, and documentation related to the implementation of the tutor competency improvement program and the inclusive learning process. The analysis was conducted descriptively by considering the stages of the competency development strategy and their impact on learning implementation. The results showed that the tutor competency improvement strategy was implemented through training, workshops, coaching, supervision, discussions between tutors, and independent learning. These strategies support the development of four aspects of tutor competency: pedagogical, personality, professional, and social. Improved pedagogical competency is seen in the tutor's ability to adapt learning methods and media to the diverse characteristics of students. Personal competency is reflected in patience, empathy, and responsibility, while professional competency develops through mastery of material and understanding of inclusive education. Social competency is also strengthened through communication and collaboration with students, fellow tutors, and PKBM managers. However, its implementation still faces obstacles such as limited facilities and infrastructure, a lack of specialized training in inclusive education, and differences in student abilities. This study concluded that improving tutor competency requires a systematic and sustainable approach through institutional support, mentoring, and regular evaluation to achieve inclusive, adaptive, and high-quality non-formal education services.

Inclusive education requires instructional strategies that respond to differences in students’ abilities and learning needs, particularly those of slow learners in junior secondary schools. This study aimed to describe teachers’ inclusive strategies for accommodating the learning needs of students in Class VII A at SMP Negeri 2 Teluk Pandan, Kutai Timur Regency, Indonesia. A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed from September to December 2025. The participants comprised one homeroom teacher and two students with learning difficulties, identified as H and AR. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Data credibility was examined through source and technique triangulation. The findings revealed four forms of accommodation: repeated explanations and simplified instructions, adjustments to assignments and assessments according to students’ abilities, additional time for task completion, and seating arrangements combined with positive feedback. The teacher also provided individual assistance to help students understand learning materials and complete assignments. However, small-group and heterogeneous-group activities were not implemented consistently. These findings highlight the importance of flexible accommodations, progress monitoring, and varied instructional strategies to support student participation in inclusive learning environments. ABSTRAK Pendidikan inklusif memerlukan strategi pembelajaran yang responsif terhadap perbedaan kemampuan dan kebutuhan belajar murid, khususnya murid dengan hambatan belajar (slow learner) di sekolah menengah pertama. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan strategi inklusif guru dalam mengakomodasi kebutuhan belajar murid kelas VII A SMP Negeri 2 Teluk Pandan, Kabupaten Kutai Timur. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus yang dilaksanakan pada September–Desember 2025. Subjek penelitian terdiri atas seorang wali kelas dan dua murid dengan hambatan belajar, yaitu H dan AR. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis melalui reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Keabsahan data diperiksa menggunakan triangulasi sumber dan teknik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan empat bentuk akomodasi, yaitu pengulangan materi dan penyederhanaan instruksi, penyesuaian tugas dan penilaian berdasarkan kemampuan murid, pemberian waktu tambahan, serta pengaturan tempat duduk dan umpan balik positif. Guru juga memberikan pendampingan individual untuk membantu murid memahami materi dan menyelesaikan tugas. Namun, penggunaan kelompok kecil atau heterogen belum dilakukan secara konsisten. Penelitian ini menegaskan pentingnya akomodasi fleksibel, pemantauan perkembangan, dan variasi strategi untuk mendukung partisipasi murid dalam pembelajaran inklusif.

The educational inclusion of students with Down syndrome requires support systems capable of addressing diversity without replacing the student's own participation or shifting the pedagogical responsibility away from the classroom teacher. This study aimed to interpret the experiences of shadow teachers in providing inclusive educational support to students with Down syndrome in General Basic Education, within the framework of the university outreach project "El nuevo desafío de la inclusión universitaria: estrategias de refuerzo académico para jóvenes con diversidad funcional (discapacidad)". The research employed a qualitative approach, grounded in an interpretive paradigm and a hermeneutic-phenomenological design. Three shadow teachers (MSA1, MSW2, and MSB3) participated, selected through purposive, criterion-based non-probability sampling. Data were collected through individual, asynchronous semi-structured interviews via WhatsApp and analyzed using initial and analytical coding, alongside interpretive memos. Thematic sufficiency was assessed across the entire dataset. The participants' experiences were then compared and triangulated with the theoretical framework. The analysis yielded eight thematic axes: the value of the experience; the reality of educational inclusion; methodology and strategies; the role of the shadow teacher; challenges in providing support; support and collaboration networks; vocation and motivation; and proposals for improvement. The experiences analyzed suggest that this support functions as a mediating pedagogical practice that fosters student autonomy, the adaptation of strategies, and collaboration between families and teachers, though challenges persist regarding resources, teacher training, school pacing, and time constraints.

Transitioning out of professional sport can present challenges for athletes and their wider environments, frequently necessitating coordinated physical, psychological, and economic support. Although these concerns have been documented in elite cycling, the extent to which structured transition programmes exist within the sport remains insufficiently understood, particularly in Europe, the historical centre of professional cycling. We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative documentary analysis, distributing a standardised inquiry to all European Cycling Federations (ECFs; N = 51) between December 2024-March 2025. Federations were asked whether they had formal strategies, policies, or resources related to athlete retirement. Responses were categorised as “ECF-level literature or initiative”, “No ECF-level provision”, or “No response” and relevant materials were descriptively synthesised. Amongst the 21 federations that responded, the majority (n = 17; ≈81%) reported no ECF-level retirement initiatives. Common reasons included limited resources, low perceived demand, or reliance on national or international bodies (i.e., Olympic Committees or sport-specific unions). Four ECFs (~19%) described transition-related structures, though these varied considerably in scope, definition, and delivery. Despite well-documented needs, structured retirement support for professional cyclists remains uncommon across European national federations, and existing programmes appear heterogeneously applied. As cycling expands globally, effective transition planning becomes increasingly important for athlete wellbeing and the long-term sustainability of the sport. Holistic, international collaborations led by cycling’s major governance bodies could strengthen career-long support systems, reinforce the public image of cycling as a health-promoting discipline, and create responsible, athlete-centered ecosystems.