Helping Learners with Helping Learners with Learning DisabilitiesLearning Disabilities
Ros LuggRos Lugg
Key principlesKey principles
Be aware of individual needsBe aware of individual needs Be aware of intellectual levelBe aware of intellectual level Choose materials carefullyChoose materials carefully Use multi-sensory methods where possibleUse multi-sensory methods where possible Incorporate a variety of Incorporate a variety of
materials/approachesmaterials/approaches Provide plenty of reinforcementProvide plenty of reinforcement Use assistive technology/software Use assistive technology/software
appropriatelyappropriately
Using existing strengthsUsing existing strengths
“ “Between 30 and 35% of all learners Between 30 and 35% of all learners learn visually and between 15-20% learn visually and between 15-20% are tactile-kinaesthetic learners”.are tactile-kinaesthetic learners”.
Many learners with learning difficulties Many learners with learning difficulties learn best by:learn best by:
using pictures rather than wordsusing pictures rather than words
seeing concrete examples of what the seeing concrete examples of what the finished version or product might look finished version or product might look likelike
knowing the object/end goal of the work knowing the object/end goal of the work before beginningbefore beginning
visualising scenes, characters and visualising scenes, characters and actions as they read about themactions as they read about them
finding visual clues in texts (charts, finding visual clues in texts (charts, graphs, photographs)graphs, photographs)
using artistic means to express what using artistic means to express what they learnthey learn
hands-on activitieshands-on activities
creative dramatics – acting out stories creative dramatics – acting out stories or eventsor events
learning by ‘trying out’ rather than learning by ‘trying out’ rather than being toldbeing told
word-processing rather than hand-word-processing rather than hand-writingwriting
learning or creating raps, rhythms, learning or creating raps, rhythms, rhymes or jinglesrhymes or jingles
Compensatory ToolsCompensatory Tools
Word processorWord processor Dictaphone or PDADictaphone or PDA SpellcheckerSpellchecker LaptopLaptop Reading/scanning pensReading/scanning pens Speech recognition softwareSpeech recognition software Voice activated softwareVoice activated software
Touch typingTouch typing
Practical benefit – speed, Practical benefit – speed, spellcheckers, editing facilitiesspellcheckers, editing facilities
Fine motor/neurological benefitsFine motor/neurological benefits
Kinaesthetic memory Kinaesthetic memory
Memory processesMemory processes
Attention and selectionAttention and selection
EncodingEncoding
Storage and maintainanceStorage and maintainance
RetrievalRetrieval
Attention and selectionAttention and selection
Choose and attend to relevant Choose and attend to relevant stimulistimuli
FocusFocus
Select key ideas and factsSelect key ideas and facts
EncodingEncoding
Translating incoming information Translating incoming information into a mental representation into a mental representation which can be stored in memorywhich can be stored in memory
How?How?
Multi-media presentations – Multi-media presentations – particularly good for learners particularly good for learners with auditory processing with auditory processing difficultiesdifficulties
Mind Maps – activate visual and Mind Maps – activate visual and semantic memorysemantic memory
RecitationRecitation
Saying information out loud - creates Saying information out loud - creates an auditory memory an auditory memory
Helps to transfer information to LTMHelps to transfer information to LTM
Activates more electrical muscle Activates more electrical muscle movement messages, strengthening movement messages, strengthening neural pathwaysneural pathways
Rote learningRote learning
Form of auditory rehearsalForm of auditory rehearsal
Develops auditory ‘pattern’Develops auditory ‘pattern’
Transfers information to LTMTransfers information to LTM
Storage Storage
Categorization is importantCategorization is important
‘‘Filing system’ neededFiling system’ needed
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
(Tony Buzan Use Your Head, 1995)
Attention and selectionAttention and selection
EncodingEncoding
StorageStorage
MaintainanceMaintainance
RetrievalRetrieval