Traffic education is important for including children in transport. Due to their psycho-physical abilities, children are not able to follow the rules of traffic. Therefore, we adults are the first ones to set an example for them, especially teachers have a crucial role in this, as they are the ones who educate children about how to behave in traffic, first as pedestrians, then as cyclists. Pupils in the 6th grade of primary schools with customised educational programme with lower educational standards start preparations for taking a cycling exam, which is done in three steps: theoretical part, skills and traffic course and cycling in the traffic. After the cycling test pupils gain a cycling licence and with this their first-ever driving licence. For a person with mild learning difficulties a cycling licence means they can independently commute, which has a positive impact on their mobility and independence.
In this master's dissertation by using questionnaires we have analysed the current state in the area of preparing for the cycling exam and the competences of teachers teaching cycling in primary schools with customised educational programme with lower educational standards. 54 teachers working in primary schools with customised educational programme with lower educational standards, that lead cycling exams, have been included in the questionnaire. We have researched how teachers implement preparations for the cycling exam, how they are motivated and trained, what are the difficulties and advantages they face and how they would evaluate their efficacy of preparing individuals with mild learning difficulties for the cycling exam.
We have found that on average teachers feel competent in preparing pupils for cycling and the cycling exam, even though on average they feel that pupils are not successful in obtaining a cycling licence. One third of the teachers included in the questionnaire are not qualified to teach cycling. Methods and forms of work with implementing preparations for the cycling exam coincide with recommendations found in the literature. Teachers have raised the need for bilingual resources on the SIO website "Kolesar", however, they do not include any other adaptations in their individualised programme. With the help of these findings, we have formed suggestions for further development in the area of cycling exam preparations in primary schools with customised educational programme with lower educational standards and in obtaining appropriate qualifications for teachers.
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