09-20-2007, 01:28 AM
Personalising learning for those with Asperger's Syndrome
Quote:
Personalising learning for those with Asperger's Syndrome
Although mainstream schools suit most children’s needs, there are some students for whom a typical classroom is an ineffective learning environment
Eileen Field, Head Teacher at Accipio School, looks at how to accommodate the needs of pupils with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Asperger’s syndrome is a life-long condition on the autistic spectrum from which approximately one in 200 people suffer, predominantly males.
Those with the condition lack the ability to pick up non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and although they generally have good language skills, they find it hard to understand hidden meanings in conversation such as idioms, jokes or sarcasm.
Children with Asperger’s Syndrome take language at face value so if told to “pull their socks up” they literally bend down to do so.
Consequently, they often appear pedantic, self-focused and lacking in empathy when in fact they are struggling to make sense of social situations without the tools that most people use automatically.
They find it difficult to develop and maintain social relationships and find it hard to understand other people’s point of view.
Those with the condition have difficulty communicating and relating to others, despite their frequent desire to be sociable and to interact.
Unlike autistic pupils, people with Asperger’s Syndrome are usually of average or above average intelligence and do not have many of the learning difficulties associated with autism; indeed, learners with Asperger’s Syndrome can be very talented in their area of interest.
Although some children with Asperger’s Syndrome go to specialist schools, many attend mainstream schools.
Here their level of achievement depends upon the degree of support offered by their teachers and teaching assistants.
Those who receive ample assistance can and do go on to further education, studying for qualifications and achieving good grades.
Students with Asperger’s Syndrome lack organisational skills yet change and unpredictable situations cause them great distress.
Consequently they need those around them to create a sense of order and reduce the confusion and anxiety that can overwhelm them.
To thrive in a mainstream school, students with Asperger’s Syndrome need to share a well-ordered and quiet classroom with relatively few other students.
They benefit from considerable encouragement and need very clear instructions and explanations that do not require interpretation.
However, this can be a tall order for any teacher to deliver when there are 30 other students in a class and so students suffering from Asperger’s can find daily life at school difficult and frustrating.
One such student was Mark. Due to his condition, Mark found it very difficult to integrate into school and to learn in a mainstream classroom. His difficulties were reflected in constant behaviour issues and he was excluded from his secondary school.
Due to their difficulties with social interaction and communication, making friends can be tricky and school can be symbolic of a feeling of isolation and loneliness.
This is compounded by the fact that pupils with Aspergers’ Syndrome can be treated differently by their teachers and peers. Even in specialist schools, such as the school to which Mark was transferred by his Local Authority, Asperger’s students can have difficulty fitting in and enjoying the school environment.
Mark’s specialist school looked into a completely new environment in which he could learn: a virtual classroom. Mark attended online classes with Accipio Learning from the age of 11 to 14 and not only re-engaged with formal education, finding a new and comfortable routine, but also discovered his superior abilities in Maths.
This is typical of Asperger’s sufferers who often excel and show particular interest in one subject area.
Learning at the online school, Mark achieved a level 8 for his Maths SATS – an exceptional score – and sat his Maths GCSE two years early while in Year 9.
Participating in this online classroom environment was very effective for Mark, as with most Aspergers’ sufferers, as it removed many of the distractions which can cause distress.
Characteristic of Asperger’s Syndrome is sensitivity to sensory stimuli, for example light or sound.
Therefore noisy corridors and lunch halls can cause problems for students, meaning that the school and the student’s teachers must provide alternative arrangements, such as allowing the pupil to wait after class until the corridors have emptied before leaving for the next lesson.
By learning in a virtual space, Mark has been able to study in his own space, in a separate room in his specialist school, avoiding crowds, noises and distraction.
Asperger’s sufferers have trouble interpreting facial expressions. For Mark, removing the need for eye contact in the classroom between him and his teachers and peers was of great benefit, allowing him to concentrate better and for longer.
Due to his success at the online school, Mark has rebuilt the confidence he lost during his expulsion and has re-engaged with education.
Having moved to a mainstream college, Mark completed the first part of his Maths AS Level this summer with enormous success.
He is now working towards his Maths A2 and will be sitting the exam at the same time as his GCSEs, at the end of this academic year.
Although some Asperger’s sufferers are happy in mainstream schooling, for some students removing the distractions and annoyances of this environment can really help them to enjoy education and find their talents.
The head teacher of Mark’s specialist school noted that thanks to the online school boosting Mark’s self-esteem and qualifications, he has been able to reintegrate back into mainstream education successfully, something which may have been inconceivable a few years ago.
About Accipio Learning:
Accipio Learning is the UK’s leading provider of live, online teaching to secondary school students who are unable to attend mainstream schools. Accipio delivers its services through live, interactive lessons allowing pupils to communicate with teachers and peers in a safe and secure virtual learning environment.
Accipio works with more than 40 local authorities to provide a high quality, cost-effective solution that enables young people to gain qualifications and expand their employment or further education opportunities.
Although mainstream schools suit most children’s needs, there are some students for whom a typical classroom is an ineffective learning environment
Eileen Field, Head Teacher at Accipio School, looks at how to accommodate the needs of pupils with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Asperger’s syndrome is a life-long condition on the autistic spectrum from which approximately one in 200 people suffer, predominantly males.
Those with the condition lack the ability to pick up non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and although they generally have good language skills, they find it hard to understand hidden meanings in conversation such as idioms, jokes or sarcasm.
Children with Asperger’s Syndrome take language at face value so if told to “pull their socks up” they literally bend down to do so.
Consequently, they often appear pedantic, self-focused and lacking in empathy when in fact they are struggling to make sense of social situations without the tools that most people use automatically.
They find it difficult to develop and maintain social relationships and find it hard to understand other people’s point of view.
Those with the condition have difficulty communicating and relating to others, despite their frequent desire to be sociable and to interact.
Unlike autistic pupils, people with Asperger’s Syndrome are usually of average or above average intelligence and do not have many of the learning difficulties associated with autism; indeed, learners with Asperger’s Syndrome can be very talented in their area of interest.
Although some children with Asperger’s Syndrome go to specialist schools, many attend mainstream schools.
Here their level of achievement depends upon the degree of support offered by their teachers and teaching assistants.
Those who receive ample assistance can and do go on to further education, studying for qualifications and achieving good grades.
Students with Asperger’s Syndrome lack organisational skills yet change and unpredictable situations cause them great distress.
Consequently they need those around them to create a sense of order and reduce the confusion and anxiety that can overwhelm them.
To thrive in a mainstream school, students with Asperger’s Syndrome need to share a well-ordered and quiet classroom with relatively few other students.
They benefit from considerable encouragement and need very clear instructions and explanations that do not require interpretation.
However, this can be a tall order for any teacher to deliver when there are 30 other students in a class and so students suffering from Asperger’s can find daily life at school difficult and frustrating.
One such student was Mark. Due to his condition, Mark found it very difficult to integrate into school and to learn in a mainstream classroom. His difficulties were reflected in constant behaviour issues and he was excluded from his secondary school.
Due to their difficulties with social interaction and communication, making friends can be tricky and school can be symbolic of a feeling of isolation and loneliness.
This is compounded by the fact that pupils with Aspergers’ Syndrome can be treated differently by their teachers and peers. Even in specialist schools, such as the school to which Mark was transferred by his Local Authority, Asperger’s students can have difficulty fitting in and enjoying the school environment.
Mark’s specialist school looked into a completely new environment in which he could learn: a virtual classroom. Mark attended online classes with Accipio Learning from the age of 11 to 14 and not only re-engaged with formal education, finding a new and comfortable routine, but also discovered his superior abilities in Maths.
This is typical of Asperger’s sufferers who often excel and show particular interest in one subject area.
Learning at the online school, Mark achieved a level 8 for his Maths SATS – an exceptional score – and sat his Maths GCSE two years early while in Year 9.
Participating in this online classroom environment was very effective for Mark, as with most Aspergers’ sufferers, as it removed many of the distractions which can cause distress.
Characteristic of Asperger’s Syndrome is sensitivity to sensory stimuli, for example light or sound.
Therefore noisy corridors and lunch halls can cause problems for students, meaning that the school and the student’s teachers must provide alternative arrangements, such as allowing the pupil to wait after class until the corridors have emptied before leaving for the next lesson.
By learning in a virtual space, Mark has been able to study in his own space, in a separate room in his specialist school, avoiding crowds, noises and distraction.
Asperger’s sufferers have trouble interpreting facial expressions. For Mark, removing the need for eye contact in the classroom between him and his teachers and peers was of great benefit, allowing him to concentrate better and for longer.
Due to his success at the online school, Mark has rebuilt the confidence he lost during his expulsion and has re-engaged with education.
Having moved to a mainstream college, Mark completed the first part of his Maths AS Level this summer with enormous success.
He is now working towards his Maths A2 and will be sitting the exam at the same time as his GCSEs, at the end of this academic year.
Although some Asperger’s sufferers are happy in mainstream schooling, for some students removing the distractions and annoyances of this environment can really help them to enjoy education and find their talents.
The head teacher of Mark’s specialist school noted that thanks to the online school boosting Mark’s self-esteem and qualifications, he has been able to reintegrate back into mainstream education successfully, something which may have been inconceivable a few years ago.
About Accipio Learning:
Accipio Learning is the UK’s leading provider of live, online teaching to secondary school students who are unable to attend mainstream schools. Accipio delivers its services through live, interactive lessons allowing pupils to communicate with teachers and peers in a safe and secure virtual learning environment.
Accipio works with more than 40 local authorities to provide a high quality, cost-effective solution that enables young people to gain qualifications and expand their employment or further education opportunities.
