Projects
The potential of ‘Inspiration’ software for Dyslexic Students
Project leader
Kevin Brunton – Senior Lecturer, Needs Assessor, Dyslexia IT Tutor
Project partner/s
Subject Centre Advisor
Jonathan Gibson
Brief description
Dyslexia and English Studies have a complex and contradictory relationship. English’s dependence on reading and writing skills puts significant barriers in front of dyslexic students, whilst, on the other hand, dyslexic students often possess exactly the skills most valued by English lecturers: creativity, originality and a heightened sensitivity to literary nuance. The study will provide information about the experience of dyslexic students studying English, an area about which very little is currently known and will include an investigation of how Inspiration mind mapping software might assist them.
Background
In ‘Dyslexia and Learning Style’, Mortimore (2003) presents an overview of learning style theory and discusses how this might be applied to the learning of students with dyslexia. Whilst she acknowledges that firm evidence is still a subject of debate she explores the idea that dyslexic students “tend towards a wholistic or imaging style either because memory difficulties and weakness in processing verbal information force them to rely on the visuo-spatial channels or through innate strengths in theses area.”
Such thinking has resulted in the regular teaching of study techniques that emphasis visual learning. In the field of assistive technology software this has seen the development of a range of mind mapping packages that can be used to turn visual images into linear plans.
Project aims
This study aims to look at how this software can be utilised by students studying English for the purpose of improving their writing and preparation for exams.
Timetable
| Circulation of project publicity | w/c 24 September 2007 |
| Student support workshop | Mid-October 2007 |
| Student support on the Subject Centre’s Moodle virtual learning environment | Ongoing from w/c 24th September – 30 April 2008 |
| Submission of draft report | 15 April 2008 |
Outcomes
The results of the study will be used to develop guidance for both subject staff and students as to how this type of software can be best utilised in both teaching and for independent study. It is envisaged that this guidance will be made available via the Subject Centre website and as a printed report.
Similar work
This project is being run in conjunction with TechDis, a leading educational advisory service, working across the UK, in the fields of accessibility and inclusion. They have also sponsored a project looking at essay planning in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York.
Links
- Download a project publicity poster (for your staff departmental noticeboard)
- Student project welcome page
- Student discussion board (requires login as guest to ESC 'Virtue' learning environment)
