Creating effective learning experiences for students with learning disorder in vocational education and training
Students learn in different ways. The more effective you can make their learning experiences, the better you can maximise their chances of success.
There may be times when you have students who appear bright, but who consistently struggle to comprehend instructions or text, or who might have trouble writing. This would be most evident at exam time.
These students may have learning disorder.
What is learning disorder?
Learning disorder affects the way the brain processes information. It commonly affects reading, writing, maths and co-ordination.
Learning disorder appears in people across the spectrum of intelligence and is not associated with intellectual disability.
Students with learning disorder may find it difficult to:
- Translate written or spoken information into practical or written work
- Co-ordinate their motor skills
- Understand mathematical tasks
These students can, however experience success through modified teaching and the use of specially designed learning technologies.
Definitions
Currently in Australia, learning disorder relates to three areas:
- Dyslexia (difficulties with reading and writing)
- Dyspraxia (difficulties with movement)
- Dyscalculia (difficulties with mathematical tasks)
This website is linked to several other sites in which the word ‘disorder’ is replaced by ‘disability’, ‘impairment’ or ‘condition’. They are all the same thing.
About this site
This site is especially designed for teachers, co-ordinators, managers and learning support staff in the adult sector of vocational education and training. This also includes teachers of language, literacy and numeracy.
This site addresses the following:
- What the signs of learning disorder are
- How to respond to students with learning disorder
- Teaching tips and other practical support
- Course assessment strategies
- Ideas for professional development
- Further support and services
