Supporting Diversity through 21st Century Teaching and Learning (3 pages)

Elizabeth Collins-Bray

EDU 694 Capstone 1: Educational Research

Instructor: Newton Miller

September 10, 2019

Introduction

Engagement concept is one of the most considered aspects when it comes to improving outcomes be it in schools or workplaces. When the concept of engagement is directed to the educational context, it becomes a very vital element when it comes to students' academic excellence, dropout rates as well as motivation. Students engagement is one of the most determinants of the positive student's outcomes as put across by student engagement literature. When it comes to comes children in their early year’s children engage with the environment plays a key role in improving their outcomes (Haroon, 2019). When it comes to students with disabilities their engagement is much less especially with other peers and adults, they are also less engaged with other materials as compared with other children without disability. Children with autism have been identified to be more passive as well as having increased levels of non-engagement even when compared to other children with other types of disabilities (Corsello, 2005, Kishida & Kemp, 2006). If at all these children are engaged, chances are that they are more engaged to other objects and not with people. Due to this reduced social engagement especially with the social world, children with Autism are not able to learn new skills which arise particularly from engagement and this adversely affect their development.

Special needs for children with autism

The prevalence of students with autism today have increased with more than ten-fold in the past two decades with estimate indicating that for every 88 children 1 child is believed to have autism (CDC,2012). This means there is an overall increase in the number of school-going children with autism and thus calling for more research and additional information on how to meets their educational needs (USDOE, 2010).

Students with autism have special needs which are attributed to affecting their success in multiple ways. Autism children have a lot of challenges engaging in the classroom, which is associated with filtering unnecessary information, difficulties in attending to important aspects as well as focus shifting (Keen, 2009). Children with autism are also faced with the challenge of lacking motivation which is most evident in disruptive behaviors and task avoidance e.g. running away or even crying (Barbera, 2007). Another challenge faced by these children is when it comes to learning new materials. To be specific children and individuals with ASD have a lot of challenges in learning strategies and rules as well as information breakdown (Goldstein et al., 2001).

Measures to address specials need for students with autism

Use of Universal Design Learning (UDL)

One of the ways which can be employed to deal with autism issue and help meets the needs of the student with this disorder is through the use of Universal Design Learning (UDL). UDL is designed from the outset to accommodate individuals with different disabilities through the use of traditional applications (Stahl & Zabal, 2005). Through the use of UDL it because easier to allow visualization especially through the use of instructional materials and practices. UDL is composed of three core features which are representational, expression and engagement (Hall, Strongman & Meyer, 2003). Through the use of multiple means, it becomes easier to draw students to class activities and this has proved to be a very useful tool for students with autism disorder.

Through the use of multiple expression means

Through the use of explicit procedures and directions, students can be provided which necessary guidance, tools, and support which is very necessary for completing their assignment and better understanding (Franzone, 2009). For students with Autism disorder, teachers to breakdown large assignment to smaller parts must allow comprehension as well as completion of the assignment (Barbera, 2007).To ensure that students with special needs can fully understand the task instructors need to ensure that they apply multiple formats in teaching as well when giving instructions such through the use of drawings, writing or even audios visual displays (Flash, 2009). Use of high-quality examples as well as explaining expectations through the use of rubric is a useful tactic especially for students with special needs.

Use of technology

Through studies, it has been found that most students spend about 15-20 hours per week on their preferred technology (Nagar, James sah, 2013). Through the use of institutional technologies students with special needs such as those with autism can use to improve on their understanding. This technology includes the use of IPad apps, Smartboards or even through the use of laptops. Today most of the technology that is aimed at helping students with autism focuses mainly on academics and education at 67% while 31% of the technology focus on social needs (Virnes, 2015). Google has been in the front line providing more than 20,000 apps which are mostly used in the purposes of the education with most of them created to meet the needs of students with autism (Simmons, 2014). Examples of this apps include I take turns which is mostly used to develop social skills in autism children, the other app is Give Me 5, which is majorly used to show interactions as well as guidance on how to react to certain situations.

Developing positive attitudes

Developing and maintaining positive altitudes especially to a student suffering from autism has proved to be an important factor that can be used to enhance interactions and improving social relationships for children suffering from autism (Luiselli, 2014). Teachers and parents should aim at taking all possible measures that can be used to develop positive attitudes to children suffering from autism, this may include encouraging positive interactions through games as well as the use of storybooks that focuses on themes related to disability both in school and at home (Campbell & Barger, 2011).

Process of selecting article is a very important process especially in determining the most relevant and important articles to this. This is because, most of the articles presented today are not much informative or not backed up with relevant scientific knowledge and findings. Through selecting articles, one is able to acquire vast and relevant knowledge.

Conclusion

Today, there are various ways through which students and children suffering from autism can be assisted to improve their social interaction, expression, representation as well as engagement. Parents and teachers have the duty of ensuring that they assist these children when it comes to performing daily routines and procedures. Through the use of UDL in schools’ students suffering from this disorder can gain a lot as most of their needs met. Through the use of modern technology, more research should be done to enhancing coming up with even more improved technology that can be used to improve the learning outcome of students suffering from autism condition.

Reference