Dr Kate Esser: Pictures into words, visual dyslexic learners and academic writing NADP Spring Conference, 29/04/10

Overview  How do visual or dyslexic thinkers address demands of literacy based learning?  Some visual learners, especially dyslexic ones, struggle to express themselves in writing  This presentation explores the relationship between dyslexia, visual thinking and resultant difficulties with writing  Suggestions are made as to how practitioners may address these in relation to teaching

Visual thinkers and dyslexia  What is a visual thinker?  Are visual thinkers necessarily dyslexic?  Dyslexia and visual spatial skills, and visual giftedness.  Right brain versus left brain  Critique of right brain versus left brain debate

Language and writing difficulties  Difficulties with processing language  Receptive and expressive language  Difficulties with the writing process  Visual thinkers and the writin g process

Academic demands  HE assessment and the demands this places on dyslexic learners  Academic writing and self esteem issues and frustrations  Clarifying purpose of academic writing  Feedback to foster writing development

Promoting inclusion in writing  1 Be aware of your own learning style and mode of teaching  2 Be aware of your student’s learning style/s and assess appropriately  3 Adopt methodologies which offer success to all learners  4 To be aware of the needs of students whose learning style may be diametrically different to yours  5 tudents should be able to work within their learning preference for a proportion of their learning

Implications for practice  Teach to strengths  Learning style, not learning disability  Recognise how successful learners have bridged the gap between visualisation and writing  Recognise and support learning diversity

References   Davis, R., D, (1994) The Gift of Dyslexia. Why Some of the Brightest People Can’t Read and How They Can Learn, Souvenir Press: London  Department for Education and Skills, (2004), A Framework for Understanding Dyslexia, London  Coffin, C., Curry, M., J., Goodman, S., Hewings, A., Lillis, T., M., Swann, J., (2003) Teaching Academic Writing: A Toolkit for Higher Education, Routledge: London  Cottrell, S (2001) Teaching Study Skills and Supporting Learning, Palgrave: London  accessed 02/07/08  Grant, D (2005) That’s the Way I Think: Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Explained TrenthamBooks  Grow, G (1994) ‘The Writing Problems of Visual Thinkers’; date accessed 02/07/08www.longleafne.net/ggrow/WriteVisual/WriteVisual.html  Holsanova, J (1997) ‘Verbal or Visual Thinkers? Different Ways of Orienting in a Complex Picture’, in Proceedings of the European Conference on Cognitive Science, pp , date accessed 02/07/08www.lucs.lu.se/People/Jana.Holsanova/PDF/Holsanova.1997.pdf  Jamieson, C., and Morgan, E., (2008) Managing Dyslexia at University. A Resource for Students, Academic and Support Staff, David Fulton: London  Messaris, P (1994) Visual Literacy: Image, Mind and Reality, Westview Press: Colorado  Mortimore, T (2003) Dyslexia and Learning Style: A Practitioner’s Handbook, Whurr: London  Pollak, D (2005) Dyslexia, the Self and Higher Education: Learning Life Histories of Students Identified as Dyslexic, Trentham Books: Stoke on Trent  Prashnig, B (1998) The Power of Diversity: New Ways of Learning and Teaching through Learning Styles, Network Education Press: Stafford  Reid, G (2003) Dyslexia: A Practitioner’s Handbook, (John Wiley: Chichester)  Reid, G (2005) Learning Styles and Inclusion, Paul Chapman Publishing: London  Reid, G and Wearmouth, J (2002) Dyslexia and Literacy: Theory and Practice, (John Wiley: Chichester)  Schmeck, R, R (ed.) (1988) Learning Strategies and Learning Styles, Plenum Press: New York and London  Shindler, J (2004) ‘Teaching for the Success of All Learning Styles: Five Principles for Promoting Greater Teacher Effectiveness and Higher Student Achievement for All Students’, date accessed 02/07/08www.oswego.edu/plsi/teachingacrosstype.htm  Student Partnership for Assessment, Change and Evaluation (SPACE project),  Sword, L (2002) ‘I Think in Pictures, You Teach in Words: The Gifted Visual Spatial Learner’, date accessed 02/07/08