Featured Workshop: Divergent Minds, Inspired Designs
Neurodivergent learners have unique skills and abilities that set them apart from neurotypical learners. If supported effectively, neurodivergent learners tend to excel, especially in the STEAM fields, and their unique skills can lead to significant contributions in these areas. In fact, companies are actively seeking out neurodiverse talent. In 2017, The Harvard Business Review published an article titled “Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage”. Yet neurodiverse learners are often ‘high risk’ regarding completion of a degree. This makes it even more important for educators to provide methods for accommodating these individuals who will play a critical role in our future society.
A major factor for the high-risk classification of neurodivergent learners is due to their unique learning needs not being met. Providing adequate accommodations is not straightforward because many neurodivergent learners do not have an official diagnosis. In fact, there are many cases in which people haven’t recognized they are neurodivergent until adulthood (Polyzoi, Ahnemark, Medin, & Ginsberg, 2018; Happe & Frith, 2020). This makes it even more critical that we as educators take the necessary steps to ensure their time in academia truly does accommodate every learner.
While there are some small actions that can be taken to accommodate neurodivergent learners such as replacing multiple choice exams with other formats such as essays that allow neurodivergent learners to explain their viewpoint, these are only a small step in the overall learning process. But we need to create a dynamic in which neurodivergent learners are supported throughout the learning process rather than simply making small adjustments along the way.
In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of what neurodivergence is, explore case studies to gain insights into the neurodivergent students’ experience and learn valuable strategies for fostering neuro-inclusive learning environments.
1 Hour
Virtual or in-person
An exploration of the Executive Functions with a focus on on their affordances and barriers for neurodivergent students. A guided session that places the Executive Functions into a humanized format through evaluating case studies and relevant supportive strategies.
3 Hour
Interactive Workshop
Attendees of this session will receive an in-depth exploration of the challenges neurodivergent learners encounter during academia, a guided exploration of executive functions, and the opportunity to redesign a course with neuro-inclusivity in mind.
Testimonial
“WOW! Thank you! This was NOT a workshop or PD, it was an EXPERIENCE…a true learning experience that flourished from your courage to share your personal experiences, learn how to do what we do to better to serve all of our learners, and advocate for learners. I also really enjoyed and found value in the activities. They are not easy to implement in a video session, but they were meaningful, well organized, and allowed us to get to know each other and learn from each other. I learned from you and them also! Thank you! I am a changed person after our time together today!“
— Maria Elena Corbeil
Professor, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Request More Information
Contact me to receive information about pricing and availability.