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