Developing
D&T resources for students with complex
learning difficulties
School: Watergate Special
School, Newport
Fellow: Carol-Anne Eades
Email: caeades@btinternet.com
Final report
Aims:
this is two fold and relates directly to
every day working with students who have prominent
SEN syndromes such as ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia
and Autism.
To study and build up
knowledge of the cognitive and practical
difficulties that students of all ages
with a wide variety of learning difficulties
experience when designing and making
in Technology
To analyse the designing and making
process for pupils with complex learning
difficulties in resistant materials
technology and then to develop appropriate
materials and equipment for use by students
in both special and mainstream schools
to increase their independent working.
Early research began in 2002:
During this time I worked
with two groups of Year 8 and 9 pupils
with severe learning difficulties who
attended Design Technology lessons at
Watergate School.
Throughout this time I observed and
recorded the problems the pupils encountered
– to summarize
- Most pupils were unable to use materials
and equipment to develop their projects
without continual and consistent support
from an adult.
- This has led me
to focus on the development of resources
to enable children with complex learning
difficulties to become more independent
in their work.
The learning disabilities
encountered so far are both physical and
intellectual
Ongoing Investigations include:
To relate the specific
learning difficulty to a particular
task
Research continued at Watergate during September
to December through a wider range Y3 - Y12
As a direct result of this research the
design and development of practical projects
evolved.
The focus has been to
enable increased independent access
for students with varying degrees of
learning difficulties to work in Resistant
Materials Technology.
Research has facilitated the
development of specific jigs to help mark,
cut and finish using particular tools such
as a tenon saw. With the involvement of the
IOW group of Inventors these are now being
constructed and tested at Watergate School
to enable continued evaluation
Example
A pupil has only one hand
finding it impossible to saw a piece
of wood unless an adult was available
to assist – with this jig he can
now saw confidently, accurately and
independently. His concentration span
and independence allow increased access
to the Curriculum in Resistant Materials
Technology
Current research includes the further development
of jigs to support the construction of Automata
and to incorporate Smart materials into this
project.
Alongside this practical project
I am currently discussing with Professionals
such as Child Psychologists the possibility
of identifying and relating precise problems
with designing and making to specific learning
disabilities.
