Transitions from presence, belonging to engaged participation in an inclusive classroom: an eye-tracking study

ABSTRACT While many studies about special education needs (SEN) have discussed inclusive efforts in educational settings, more proximal research examining ways to support students with SEN in-process to achieve is needed. This study discussed proximal data, collected from eye trackers and lesson videos, showing how students with SEN transit between the state of presence, belonging, and engaged participation in an inclusive classroom. Using an eye tracking case study of an inclusive science classroom, with a focus on how science teachers support students with dyslexia to learn science, we unpacked how the teacher supported students through such a transformative experience. We characterised the transitions and examined how these transitions happen and found that the transitions were non-unidirectional and could be prematurely truncated due to a change in the teacher’s eye gaze. Some students might not move to the state of engaged participation during a lesson. These transitions were facilitated by the teaching practices. Implications for teachers of inclusive classrooms and research in inclusive classrooms were discussed.