Body mapping
Body mapping is an activity where students are guided through the process of making a life-size outline of themselves which they fill with images, symbols and words representative of their experiences. It is a creative and reflective activity.
Body mapping’s emphasis on visual storytelling can be particularly useful for students who use alternative communication methods and students who access individualised support for speech, language or literacy.
Chalmers Road School
Students and staff at Chalmers Road School demonstrate the body mapping method.
St George School
Students and staff at St George School go through the body mapping method step-by-step.
My Say My Way
The Disability Strategy completed the 2019-21 My Say My Way project to develop accessible ways for students with moderate to high support needs to provide feedback on their learning and experiences.
Giving students a voice is an important part of student agency and self-determination, one of six principles highlighted in the department’s Inclusive Education Statement for students with disability as essential in embedding inclusive practice in schools.
The department worked with 24 schools to develop and trial three accessible methods of capturing feedback from students with moderate and high support needs about their education. This included photovoice, body mapping and three different accessible online surveys catering to different support needs.
The trial was done in partnership with the University of New South Wales. Students were asked what they liked about school, how and what they learned, their relationships with staff and other students, life after school and more.
The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) is now leading the next phase of this project, with greater alignment to the Plan for Public Education and national priorities on improving the collection of data for students with disability. This will include:
- Collaboratively designing tools closely with schools
- A wider application for all students with complex learning needs
- Providing a digital platform, including integration of assistive technology
- The option to capture parent/carer insights
Click here to find out more.
School Excellence Framework alignment
Wellbeing
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers alignment
Standard 1: Know students and how they learn
Audience
Primary teachers, SLSOs
Purpose
This resource can be used by teachers to help students express themselves. See an example of how a classroom teacher guides students through the process of making a life-size outline of themselves which they fill with images, symbols and words representative of their experiences.
Timeframes and when to use
This resource can be used at any time to provide further information and practice guidance
Evidence base
This resource was developed with the AllPlay Learn team who conducted a series of systematic reviews of the empirical literature, with over 177,000 articles screened. The resources remain up-to-date, with content reflecting best practice reviewed by a world-class multidisciplinary research team, led by Monash University.
Reviewed
November 2021. Share your feedback here