Challenges and Strategies for Teaching Subpopulations Neurodiverse Learners Minorities and Women First Generation English Language Learners Veterans and Military

Neurodiverse Learners More students have learning differences, including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – often combined Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Neurodiverse Learners More students have learning differences, including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – often combined ASD marked by social/communication difficulties Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Neurodiverse Learners More students have learning differences, including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – often combined ASD marked by social/communication difficulties Autism, autistic behaviors and autistic people – profoundly misunderstood Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Neurodiverse Learners More students have learning differences, including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – often combined ASD marked by social/communication difficulties Autism, autistic behaviors and autistic people profoundly misunderstood ASD students often “out-of-the-box” thinkers, intelligent, reliable, focused, with strong attention to detail and excellent long-term memory Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Challenges for ASD Students Misread social cues or facial expressions Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Challenges for ASD Students Misread social cues or facial expressions Social interactions/group work stressful Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Challenges for ASD Students Misread social cues or facial expressions Social interactions/group work stressful Stress-relieving activities may make others uncomfortable Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Challenges for ASD Students Misread social cues or facial expressions Social interactions/group work stressful Stress-relieving activities may make others uncomfortable Sensory perceptions can interfere with learning Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Challenges for ASD Students Misread social cues or facial expressions Social interactions/group work stressful Stress-relieving activities may make others uncomfortable Sensory perceptions can interfere with learning Nebulous sense of time (impacts multi-tasking) Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Challenges for ASD Students Misread social cues or facial expressions Social interactions/group work stressful Stress-relieving activities may make others uncomfortable Sensory perceptions can interfere with learning Nebulous sense of time (impacts multi-tasking) Difficulty with changes and transitions Burk et.al. – SAGE 2YC workshop (2013)

Minorities and Women - Stereotype Threat Threat of being viewed through lens of a negative stereotype or fear of confirming that stereotype (Steele, 1999)

Minorities and Women - Stereotype Threat Threat of being viewed through lens of a negative stereotype or fear of confirming that stereotype (Steele, 1999) Video on stereotype threatstereotype threat

Minorities and Women - Stereotype Threat Threat of being viewed through lens of a negative stereotype or fear of confirming that stereotype (Steele, 1999) Video on stereotype threatstereotype threat Negative effects on performance of minorities, socio-economic groups, ELLs, veterans/military, and others

Minorities and Women - Stereotype Threat Threat of being viewed through lens of a negative stereotype or fear of confirming that stereotype (Steele, 1999) Video on stereotype threatstereotype threat Negative effects on performance of minorities, socio-economic groups, ELLs, veterans/military, and others Related stress-inducing situation is Solo Status – being only member of one’s group in larger group

Minorities and Women - Stereotype Threat Threat of being viewed through lens of a negative stereotype or fear of confirming that stereotype (Steele, 1999) Video on stereotype threatstereotype threat Negative effects on performance of minorities, socio-economic groups, ELLs, veterans/military, and others Related stress-inducing situation is Solo Status – being only member of one’s group in larger group Words and situations can trigger an involuntary response

Stereotype Threat – Effects Increased stress – physiological responses (e.g. sweating, pounding heart, trembling hands) Beilock (2010)

Stereotype Threat – Effects Increased stress – physiological responses (e.g. sweating, pounding heart, trembling hands) Reduced working memory Beilock (2010)

Stereotype Threat – Effects Increased stress – physiological responses (e.g. sweating, pounding heart, trembling hands) Reduced working memory Poorer performance in high-stakes situations Beilock (2010)

Stereotype Threat – Effects Increased stress – physiological responses (e.g. sweating, pounding heart, trembling hands) Reduced working memory Poorer performance in high-stakes situations Cortisol increases - may take hours to return to normal Beilock (2010)

Stereotype Threat – Effects Increased stress – physiological responses (e.g. sweating, pounding heart, trembling hands) Reduced working memory Poorer performance in high-stakes situations Cortisol increases - may take hours to return to normal Effects greatest for most skilled students who would like to excel Beilock (2010)

First Generation More likely to be minority students (Ward and others, 2012)

First Generation More likely to be minority students Feel (and often are) less prepared, especially in science & math (Ward and others, 2012)

First Generation More likely to be minority students Feel (and often are) less prepared, especially in science & math Worry about financial aid – many from economically disadvantaged families (Ward and others, 2012)

First Generation More likely to be minority students Feel (and often are) less prepared, especially in science & math Worry about financial aid – many from economically disadvantaged families Less familiar with professional expectations (Ward and others, 2012)

First Generation More likely to be minority students Feel (and often are) less prepared, especially in science & math Worry about financial aid – many from economically disadvantaged families Less familiar with professional expectations Fear of failing (Ward and others, 2012)

First Generation More likely to be minority students Feel (and often are) less prepared, especially in science & math Worry about financial aid – many from economically disadvantaged families Less familiar with professional expectations Fear of failing Lower educational aspirations (Ward and others, 2012)

English Language Learners Broader category than you might think… Immigrant - voluntary and involuntary (refugees); a highly variable group

English Language Learners Broader category than you might think… Immigrant - voluntary and involuntary (refugees); a highly variable group International - educated and literate, but often weak in oral and auditory skills

English Language Learners Broader category than you might think… Immigrant - voluntary and involuntary (refugees); a highly variable group International - educated and literate, but often weak in oral and auditory skills Migrants – may not be literate in any language; often very irregular K-12 schooling

English Language Learners Broader category than you might think… Immigrant - voluntary and involuntary (refugees); a highly variable group International - educated and literate, but often weak in oral and auditory skills Migrants – may not be literate in any language; often very irregular K-12 schooling U.S. born – not English speaking at home (Gen 1.5); very familiar with U.S. educational system; often have strong verbal and weak reading/writing skills; may be “hidden”

Veterans and Military 23 million living vets; ~4 million receiving VA benefits including education

Veterans and Military 23 million living vets; ~4 million receiving VA benefits including education Many National Guard/Reserves and active duty military use benefits to take courses

Veterans and Military 23 million living vets; ~4 million receiving VA benefits including education Many National Guard/Reserves and active duty military use benefits to take courses Funding through GI Bill, but with many strings

Veterans and Military 23 million living vets; ~4 million receiving VA benefits including education Many National Guard/Reserves and active duty military use benefits to take courses Funding through GI Bill, but with many strings Have many geoscience-related skills and experiences

Veterans and Military 23 million living vets; ~4 million receiving VA benefits including education Many National Guard/Reserves and active duty military use benefits to take courses Funding through GI Bill, but with many strings Have many geoscience-related skills and experiences Both field and world experience