Why am I interested in researching this topic, what is my connection to ISA students and learning difficulties? For context I’m further developing the work I’ve started on the IP unit and focusing on learning difficulties. Learning difficulties such as Dyslexia (reading), dyscalculia (math), dysgraphia (writing), ADHD (attention). With proper support and strategies, people with learning difficulties can often improve their skills and achieve academic success.

There is a personal connection too. I have been formally diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia only a year ago, but for the last 20 years I knew. Without a formal diagnoses I would not get any extra help or support with my PgCert, so I went for the assessment. The assessment was long and complicated, which made me want to give up half-way through. The support given to me, post the assessment, was again very complicated, long, tedious forms to fill in and complicated structure of 1:1 support. I gave up.

Prior to my assessment and after only teaching for 6 months I started noticing things that were not agreeing me with. The structure of curriculum delivery, they way we offered tutorials to students, the way we assess. I did not work for me, so it must not work for other students with learning difficulties. But is this just me?

I took it upon myself to have conversations with my Course leader and Programme Director to see if there is anything that can be done. Is it just me being weird? How we can give the students with learning difficulties the best chance to learn and thrive at university.

Post the above conversation I realised I haven’t consulted any students, I just made assumptions based on myself. I needed to make this work for them and the future students. I need to get them involved. As Freire emphasises, dialogue is essential for transformation. Through dialogue, students and teachers can learn from each other and develop a shared understanding of the world:

“Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people–they manipulate them. Freire, 2006

Now I just need to get my skates on and get the interviews in the diary and done before all the students leave for the summer break.

References

• Freire, P. 2006. Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 30th anniversary ed. New York: Continuum