It's been said before but I feel the best procedure is to work with the student as an individual with his/her experiences that were successful and, possibly more important, those methods which were not successful.
James,
it really is exciting to see them being successful & to know that I've played a part in that success.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I went through this with my own daughter, before I became a part of the education process. It took 5 years beginning in grade school to find teachers who understood the problems and could support the process. As a result now that I am teaching, I tend to gravitate toward those I recognize as needing a little extra attention, while not loosing site of the others in class. It's fun for me to bring along a student who might otherwise not have succeeded if I had not become aware of a problem learner.
Jeffrey,
asking the student these questions is a great fist step in helping them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Find out what has been successful for them up to that point in their educational journey. Also discuss techniques with other instructors what may have worked for them in similar situations.
Hugh,
I agree with your statement & your approach. If the student demonstrates that willingness I'm here for them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Providing more time after class and giving them assignments well in advance are two of my approaches, but all students are different and you have to be flexible. My theory if the student is willing to try I am willing to help.
Jamie,
yes, as simple as this sounds it is actually one of the best ways to help students who are struggling.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
First, I think I would have to determine what kind of disability they have. Then, the approach would need to be tailored to their disability. Also, ask the student what worked for them in the past. Communication is often the answer to most problems.
Ask the student how they have recieved help in the past. Do some research on their disability and teach them the best way that they could learn.
Russ,
this is a great statement & key to the collaborative environment that should exist in academia.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
One message I try to relate to my peer educators is that we work in the 'success business' (student focused) not a peer to peer competition (instructor focused). I have found that once the instructors' focus is on the students, we find creative ways to help everyone.
Arthur,
yes, we don't want to single these students out, but rather help them be successful.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Allow the student not to feel differnt than any other student. With exta time allowed is best to help them with test and other course work.
Speaking with students with learning disabilities about strategies that work for them is a way that an instructor can learn to help in real time.
Luisa,
yes, yes, yes! Open up those lines of communication, show that you want to help the student be successful & engage them in helping with their own success.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I work one on one with the students with learning disabilities as much as possible and asks them to call me over or come up to my desk as often as needed.
my experience has been that giving them more time for tests and projects is very helpful
I think one of the greatest tools is communication with the student. The student has lived with their disability their whole life and will often know what helps work for them. Becoming educated on the disability the student has will also help.
Self educating on the particular disability. Also offering the student what has worked in the past for them. In addition, I think that offering them extra tutoring time to clarify their understanding
