Three professors from the University of Central Florida have to improve together classroom learning for students with attention deficit dis...
Three professors from the University of Central Florida have to improve together classroom learning for students with attention deficit disorder, autism and learning difficulties.
The National Science Foundation has $ 300,000 classroom to finance the support of the University Project customization student also Science (Accesss), directed by professors UCF Jacquelyn Chini and Cherie Yestrebsky and Eleazar Vasquez excellent.
Discussion and activities of the class of active problem solving were shown to benefit most students. However, the effectiveness of these strategies for students with deficits in executive function (a frequent cognitive difference in conditions such as attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder) was not been widely discussed.
Researchers observed during and interview students with disabilities about their experiences in these courses active learning. These observations confirm the existing systems in place and barriers are identified and recommendations will lead to the instructor.
"The project will be an important step to increase the impact of education in active learning courses, especially for students with impaired organ function" Chini, a senior assistant physics professor and researcher said for the project.
The project will help teachers to develop strategies based on the scope of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL, a set of principles for curriculum development, to learn to give all people equal opportunities, according to the National Center for Universal Design.
"These strategies for better learning result for students with disabilities and students in general," said co-researcher Vasquez. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Child, Family and Community Professor.
In the second and third years, accesss learning communities to implement the recommendations are developed. These communities consist of UCF professors and tutors in physics and chemistry departments.
"The project objectives are to improve the promotion Accesss Education for Disabled Students", Yestrebsky, director of the chemistry department said. "The project will also generate knowledge about effective learning strategies and effective training instructors models for post-secondary STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] teachers."
Yestrebsky hope that the techniques used to apply Accesss project to implement to other student groups.
"We will examine the learning outcomes of students with disabilities and students in other specific sub-groups, such as women, minorities represented, veterans and first-generation students," he said.
Accesss begins this fall and should be completed in the summer of 2019.
