Educational Innovations as Facilitating Factors for Learning of Children with Special Needs in Preschool Institutions

Abstract

The objective of our study is to measure the impact of teaching innovations in facilitating the learning of preschool children (aged 3-6) with special needs. This study covers 5 municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo (Prishtina, Gjakova, Ferizaj, Gjilan, Kamenica). Data were collected through electronic questionnaires with 128 parents and 128 educators who have children with special needs. The questions were oriented around the impact of educational innovations in facilitating the learning of children with special needs. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that the impact of teaching innovations has shown a trend towards a positive future in facilitating learning for children with special needs. However, gradual improvements should be made to create a suitable and inclusive environment by providing innovative approaches according to the needs of children with special needs. In this study, it was understood from the respondents that educational innovations affect the facilitation of learning for children with special needs, which has also been statistically proven. According to statistics, we finally realized that parents are more principled, compared to educators. Parents are constantly looking for innovative changes, while educators are reluctant to do so, arguing that they do not have enough support from educational institutions. In quantitative terms, the phenomenon of educational innovations in facilitating the learning of children with special needs, especially in terms of the implementation of educational innovations, in terms of parents' perception, needs improvement, especially in the adaptation of educational innovations to children and completing preschool institutions with professional educators and assistants.

Received: 22 August 2024 / Accepted: 29 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024