Effective teaching and sound pedagogy helps students with disabilities and benefit students without disabilities.
A wide array of instructional modes will reach a larger percentage of learners and address a greater number of student learning styles.
Do include the disability statement in the course syllabus and distribute the syllabus and statement during the first class meeting.
When available and appropriate, select a textbook with an accompanying study guide for optional student use.
Publish or announce reading assignments and list far in advance for students using taped or alternative material formats. Recording an entire book can take up to 6 months and ordering a book may take up to 2 weeks if the book is readily available and the student user is a current member of the Regional Day School for the Blind and Dyslexic.
Begin class with a review of the previous lecture. At the end of the class, summarize key points.
Provide students access to lecture notes, major concept outlines, and/or lesson highlights on the board before class or on a website or as a handout.
Use generous amounts of visual aides such as charts, video streaming, graphs, etc.
Give assignments both orally and in writing. Provide timelines and sequential steps (i.e. identify a topic, outline, submit rough draft, make necessary corrections for approval, final draft) for long range assignments.
Diminish or eliminate auditory and visual distractions.
Provide study questions, sample test questions or review sessions to help in mastering material and preparing for exams.
Encourage students to seek assistance during your office hours, to utilize the Tutoring Center services, Language Labs when appropriate, and study groups.
Use proximity as a tool for helping attention deficit or hyperactive students to focus by standing near their desk or table. Remember, planning is done in your seat; teaching is done on your feet.
Be Transparent. Talk to other faculty persons in your department and share success and failures on strategies that work and those that work even better.
Participate in faculty development activities sponsored by the PVAMU Center for Teaching Excellence and those offered at the System level.
