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Creation of Didactic Materials at an Art Academy for Children with Developmental Disabilities Involved in Equine-Assisted Learning Interventions

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Title: Creation of Didactic Materials at an Art Academy for Children with Developmental Disabilities Involved in Equine-Assisted Learning Interventions
Language: English
Authors: Renata Burai, Sonja Vuk, Antonio Kutleša
Source: Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal. 2026 16(1):103-131.
Availability: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education. University of Ljubljana Kardeljeva plošcad 16. Slovenia. Tel: +386-1-5892-344; e-mail: editors@cepsj.si; Web site: https://journals.uni-lj.si/CEPSJ/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 28
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Graduate Students, College School Cooperation, Partnerships in Education, Students with Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, Animals, Intervention, Fine Arts, Problem Based Learning, Gamification, Material Development, Instructional Materials, Student Developed Materials, Toys, Games, Special Needs Students, Student Motivation
Geographic Terms: Croatia
ISSN: 1855-9719
2232-2647
Abstract: This paper presents a practice-based exploratory project focused on the codesign and evaluation of didactic materials for children with developmental disabilities participating in equine-assisted learning interventions. The project was conducted during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years through a collaboration between the Art Education Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, the Don Kihot Association and partner organisations. Ten graduate students participated as part of their coursework in the subjects Pedagogy, and Methodology of Fine Arts. The primary aim of the project was to integrate theoretical instruction with artistic practice through project-based learning and gamification, while preparing future teachers to design inclusive didactic materials adapted to the needs of children with developmental disabilities. A secondary aim was to explore how such codesigned materials function in practice during equine-assisted learning sessions. The study adopted a qualitative, practice-oriented approach. Data were collected through student portfolios, teachers' and collaborators' reflective notes, and structured evaluation forms completed by practitioners during the application of the didactic materials with three child participants. The project resulted in ten original didactic toys and games. The findings indicate that student engagement and intrinsic motivation increased through real-world, socially relevant design tasks. Practitioner evaluations suggest that the usability and acceptance of didactic toys depend strongly on the child's specific type of developmental difficulty as well as on task complexity, thus highlighting the importance of adaptability and individualisation. The study contributes to practice-based research in inclusive art education and equine-assisted learning by offering empirically grounded reflections on the design and use of didactic materials.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504212
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Creation of Didactic Materials at an Art Academy for Children with Developmental Disabilities Involved in Equine-Assisted Learning Interventions
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Renata+Burai%22">Renata Burai</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sonja+Vuk%22">Sonja Vuk</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Antonio+Kutleša%22">Antonio Kutleša</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Center+for+Educational+Policy+Studies+Journal%22"><i>Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(1):103-131.
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  Data: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education. University of Ljubljana Kardeljeva plošcad 16. Slovenia. Tel: +386-1-5892-344; e-mail: editors@cepsj.si; Web site: https://journals.uni-lj.si/CEPSJ/index
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  Data: 28
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+School+Cooperation%22">College School Cooperation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Partnerships+in+Education%22">Partnerships in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+Disabilities%22">Developmental Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animals%22">Animals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fine+Arts%22">Fine Arts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Based+Learning%22">Problem Based Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gamification%22">Gamification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Material+Development%22">Material Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Materials%22">Instructional Materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Developed+Materials%22">Student Developed Materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Toys%22">Toys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Games%22">Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Needs+Students%22">Special Needs Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Croatia%22">Croatia</searchLink>
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  Data: 1855-9719<br />2232-2647
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  Data: This paper presents a practice-based exploratory project focused on the codesign and evaluation of didactic materials for children with developmental disabilities participating in equine-assisted learning interventions. The project was conducted during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years through a collaboration between the Art Education Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, the Don Kihot Association and partner organisations. Ten graduate students participated as part of their coursework in the subjects Pedagogy, and Methodology of Fine Arts. The primary aim of the project was to integrate theoretical instruction with artistic practice through project-based learning and gamification, while preparing future teachers to design inclusive didactic materials adapted to the needs of children with developmental disabilities. A secondary aim was to explore how such codesigned materials function in practice during equine-assisted learning sessions. The study adopted a qualitative, practice-oriented approach. Data were collected through student portfolios, teachers' and collaborators' reflective notes, and structured evaluation forms completed by practitioners during the application of the didactic materials with three child participants. The project resulted in ten original didactic toys and games. The findings indicate that student engagement and intrinsic motivation increased through real-world, socially relevant design tasks. Practitioner evaluations suggest that the usability and acceptance of didactic toys depend strongly on the child's specific type of developmental difficulty as well as on task complexity, thus highlighting the importance of adaptability and individualisation. The study contributes to practice-based research in inclusive art education and equine-assisted learning by offering empirically grounded reflections on the design and use of didactic materials.
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  Data: EJ1504212
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 28
        StartPage: 103
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College School Cooperation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Partnerships in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Developmental Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Animals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fine Arts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem Based Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gamification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Material Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Developed Materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Toys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Needs Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Croatia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Creation of Didactic Materials at an Art Academy for Children with Developmental Disabilities Involved in Equine-Assisted Learning Interventions
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            NameFull: Renata Burai
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            NameFull: Sonja Vuk
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            NameFull: Antonio Kutleša
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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