Progettare, scegliere, risolvere problemi: il tirocinio nella formazione universitaria per il docente inclusivo

The aim of the present work is to probe and analyze the outcomes of a train- ing program (in its fourth cycle) organized at the University of Palermo for the specialization of support teachers working both in infant & primary school. The teacher training proposal, carried out from July 2019 to March 2020, aimed at developing, in 522 training teachers, the following skills: de- signing action plans in response to the observed special educational needs; evaluating teaching methods; transforming theoretical constructs on inclu- sion into educational practices. The research aimed to detect if and how the internship was effective to strengthen the critical awareness of future sup- port teachers’ professional profile. The results achieved through the training activities are appreciable for developing of specialist expertise. Although the findings concern only one experimental situation that cannot be general- ized, the survey draws a progressive increase of some skills in support teach- ers: observing and reflecting, dealing with problems and formulating hypotheses, making choices and defining evaluation criteria, elaborating al- ternative plans for emerging needs of each pupil.