understanding learning difficulties this activity, titled understanding learning difficulties,...
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Understanding Learning Difficulties This activity, titled Understanding Learning Difficulties, represents the first part of a two part professional development activity. It is the initial or introductory activity and requires the participant to view a PowerPoint presentation that introduces the topic and then complete and submit two essay questions and the course evaluation. This activity is a Level 100 activity and primarily is designed to present information or introduce major concepts to the participant.
This introductory activity can be followed by a second professional development activity titled Understanding Learning Difficulties Instructional Applications. That activity will be a Level 200 training and will focus on how the information from the Level 100 activity can be used by participants in their classroom or tutoring instruction. You can check on the availability of the Understanding Learning Difficulties Instructional Applications PD activity in My Learning Plan. Overview of Level 100 (this activity) and Level 200 (recommended follow-up professional activities).Click to move to the next slideCompletion of this PowerPoint self-study activity for Act 48 Credit is dependent upon:Viewing the complete self-study PowerPointSubmitting written answers to the following two questions to Dr. Richard Gacka at [email protected]:Using Swiss Cheese as a metaphor for learning difficulties, how might the holes in cheese be likened to the difficulties in learning?How might the metaphor of Swiss Cheese help you in your assessment of students, selection of instructional methods or materials and/or your approach to classroom management?. Completing the online Continuing Professional Education Evaluation in My Learning Plan.Understanding Learning Difficulties
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Understanding Learning Difficulties An Independent Study Professional Development ActivityV 6.0 2/10/12
Richard Gacka and Kim Rossman
This PowerPoint is intended to be an initial introduction for instructors, tutors and students to the topic of learning difficulties. Many students who enroll in adult basic education or GED preparation classes have difficulty with learning for a variety of reasons. This short PowerPoint is designed to introduce the complexity of learning difficulties and the concept that those difficulties may be due to many causes and manifest themselves as a variety of types and severity. If you have questions regarding this PowerPoint or additional professional development contact [email protected]
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Just because they are all called cheese, does not mean they all taste the same or that they all have the same qualities.
What they do share is the same classification or label Cheese, but that label hides the differences that are inside each individual type. 5
Just because students have difficulty learning, it does not mean that they all have the same difficulty, that they all learn the same way or that they all have the same characteristics.
Many students have the label learning difficulty, or even learning disability placed on them. But that label does not tell you very much because just like the label cheese the label learning difficulty hides the differences that each individual student shows. No two students learn exactly the same way. You might say that every student learns differently, its just some differences are more significant than others. 6
How many holes there are in a piece of cheese, how big those holes are, where they are located and whether they touch one another to make bigger holes, are characteristics you want to know.
Just like cheese, you dont notice many of the important characteristics until you take a much closer look. 7
What the students specific problems are, how many problem areas the student has, whether the problem areas relate to one another, and to what degree the problems affect the students learning are questions that you will want to answer.
Those factors are like holes in the students learning.
Asking questions such as in what areas does the student have difficulty, does the student automatically do things to try to avoid or compensate for difficulties, and is a problem in one area causing an additional problem in another area are just a few of the questions that you should ask. Just like cheese, there are lots of holes that need to be better understood.
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As a diagnostic teacher, your job is to find out:In what specific areas does the student have difficulty?
How can you modify your teaching to either address the problem, or get around it?
As a teacher or tutor you are a detective. You are always on the lookout for clues or signs of why some learning works well while other types of learning are difficult. Once you know that, you can begin to ask questions about how you could teach the same information differently or teach it using different materials. To be a good instructor you will need to ask a lot of questions.9
Learn as much as you can about the areas that can be affected and the signs of possible difficulty.What areas of learning are affected?Receptive language?Reading decoding or comprehension?Attention or motivation?Thinking and problem solving?Math reasoning or computation?Organization or self monitoring?Expressive language?
Remember, the holes in a students learning can represent difficulty in any of a variety of areas. Sometimes those areas resemble one another (the holes touch) while other areas are quite different from others. One way of looking at the holes in learning are to classify them as coding or decoding problems, receptive or expressive language difficulties, thinking or problem solving difficulties, problems with impulsivity and self-regulation, difficulties with recall and memory just to name a few. As you continue your professional development, you can be familiar with the various types of difficulty and what an appropriate instructional adaptation might be for each of them. 10Then come up with ideas about changes that you can make in your teaching. Adapt your instruction to meet student needs.
Find pictures to show the conceptsPrepare notes for the student to studyWatch as the student practices Give the student an assignment to do listHave the student practice using computer drillsAsk the student to repeat my questions back to meLet the student give oral reports rather than written reportsGive practice problems and correct them with the studentFind a peer tutor to work with the student
Your goal is to adapt both instruction and materials in ways that make learning easier for each student. Like the slide indicates, there are many simple and easy to implement changes that can make a world of difference in the students learning. Just as a cheese maker learns to adjust recipes and adjust ingredients, as an instructor you need to learn to adjust your instruction and master different materials and techniques. 11
Remember: You want to find out how many holes there are, how big the holes are, and whether they overlap and make bigger holes.And then use that knowledge to modify your instruction.
How many holes? Oh, thats the number of difficulties that the student has. How big they are? Thats the severity of the difficulty, how much does it impact them educationally and socially. Whether they overlap? Unfortunately small problems in one area can cause big problems in another, for example, a severe reading problem can cause poor self-confidence which can cause the student to avoid positive social experiences. Yes, you need to look at holes, their size and the extent to which they overlap. 12
I know my cheese!Once you understand the Swiss Cheese metaphor, you will have a foundation for additional professional development about the types of learning difficulties.
Once you understand the cheese metaphor you can begin to ask better questions and learn to become a skilled observer of learning holes. You should also have some thoughts of what additional information you need to learn. Oh, so many different types of cheese, Ill never get to try them all. Oh, so many possible holes in students learning and so little time to address them. 13
How can I find out more?Continue to Build Your Base of Knowledge by:
Visiting the LD web site and looking at the independent study materials that are available. www.drgacka.com
Joining the LD wiggio group and read the posts and share your ideas and questions with others. Send an e-mail to [email protected] requesting that you be invited to join the group.
Visiting the Professional Development System resource web site. http://www.paadultedresources.org
Contacting your Professional Development System Lead Consultant and asking for assistance.
Completing the learning differences agency self-assessment activity. Information is available on My Learning PlanFollow me to the cheeseContact the Professional Development LD Project at: [email protected]
Now that you have had this brief introduction you should start to think about additional training. It is strongly advised that you visit the LD website and join the LD wiggio group (send an e-mail to [email protected] and indicate your interest in joining). You can also check My Learning Plan for new professional development opportunities. 14
Thanks for viewing the Understanding Learning DifferencesPowerPoint independent study professional development activity. Sniff around the ldconsultants web site or My Learning Plan for other tasty professional development tidbits.
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