„First-Hand Information is Kept in Mind” A Qualitative Study on the Effects of Lessons by Educational Specialists on Pre-Service Teachers

Abstract For several years, educational specialists have been involved in higher education to exchange their experiences with students. Educational specialists are individuals who have finished a three-year qualification after an employment at a sheltered workshop. So far, only few studies have investigated the impact of providing the extracurricular knowledge of educational specialists to students. The present qualitative study explores the value of lessons held by educational specialists on pre-service teachers. A total of 78 students of teaching was interviewed (a) using open-ended questions in an online survey (n = 62), (b) in focus groups (n = 13) and (c) in expert interviews (n = 5). Data was analysed by qualitative content analysis. The results show three categories with several sub-categories: (1) interpersonal skills (e.g., perspective taking), (2) perceptions on inclusion and persons with disabilities (e.g., self-reflection) and (3) professional knowledge (e.g., behavioural intention as a teacher). On the one hand, the categories can be helpful for specifying expectations and goals regarding the lessons given by educational specialists. On the other hand, the categories can serve as a starting point in future research.