The IRIS Center for Faculty Enhancement Peabody College at Vanderbilt University Claremont Graduate University Project # H325F010003

The IRIS Center: Free Online Course Enhancement Materials About Response to Intervention and the Identification of Students With Learning Disabilities Deb Smith, Claremont Graduate University Naomi Tyler, Vanderbilt University Kathy Strunk, Tennessee State Dept. of Education

The Reading Dilemma

But, first: What is IRIS? and What does it do?

1.Translates research into practice 2. Provides modules and materials for pre-service training IRIS (IDEA and Research For Inclusive Settings) National Center for Faculty Enhancement

To assist university faculty to better prepare future non-special education professionals to meet the needs of students with disabilities in inclusive settings. Overarching IRIS purpose:

Why would OSEP invest in a national center?

Reasons for IRIS Increased inclusion of students with disabilities 2-3 students in EVERY general education classroom will have disabilities Inner city/urban classrooms where up to half of the class is struggling Despite years of “mainstreaming” and inclusion, teachers and administrators still report discomfort and lack of knowledge when working with students with disabilities

The IRIS Strategies Modules not courses Rich sets of enhancements and resources

The IRIS Strategies Modules not courses Rich sets of enhancements and resources Application of learning sciences Dissemination without restrictions through technology

The Array of IRIS Materials Includes: Modules Case studies Other resources Information Briefs Student Activities Web Resource Directories On-Line Dictionary

Are grounded in learning sciences (How People Learn Theories) IRIS STAR Legacy Modules:

Are grounded in learning sciences (How People Learn Theories) Present validated content (Evidence-based Practices) IRIS STAR Legacy Modules:

The Tennessee Dilemma New RTI options of IDEA 2004 Strong desire and support to implement RTI across TN No professional development training materials TN

TN SIG and OSEP asked IRIS to develop modules on RTI

RTI Content Experts Lynn Fuchs Doug Fuchs Vanderbilt University Sharon Vaughn Thea Woodruff University of Texas-Austin Larry Wexler OSEP Alfredo Artiles University of Arizona Leonard Baca University of Colorado-Boulder

Basic RTI Module Sequence Recommended RTI Module Sequence

The Story Line and Characters Hypothetical School Rosa Parks Elementary School S-Team Members Mr. Johnson – school psychologist Mrs. Hernandez – 1 st grade teacher Ms. Johnson – reading specialist (Tier 2 ) Ms. Jacobs – SE teacher

Our Struggling Readers Megan is monitored in Tier 1 and shows improvement. DeJuan receives Tier 2 services, after 12 weeks he shows improvement and Tier 2 services are discontinued. LaToya and Ryan receive Tier 2 services. They show some progress after 12 weeks, but they continue with Tier 2 instruction. And, then there’s Jack!

Practice with the RTI Overview Module: 15 minutes

Practice with the RTI Assessment Module: 15 minutes

Overview of the RTI Reading Instruction Module: 10 minutes

Field-test data Study 1: Module use, self-reports Study 2: Module use, learner outcomes IRIS Research and Evaluation:

Study 1: Student Self-Reports –For 17 different modules –From 898 students in courses taught by 16 faculty at 5 institutions 47% are majoring in Elementary Education and 31% in Middle and Secondary Education 61% are White, 29% are Hispanic, 8% are Asian, and 1% are Black

Study 2: Learner Outcomes p<.0001 with these variables accounted for: Textbook content, lectures, time and day of class

The IRIS Center Web Site User or Visitor (Not “Hit”) Data

Per academic term. Exclusive of all Vanderbilt use, research participants, Allyn & Bacon MyLabSchool

IRIS Center for Faculty Enhancement Peabody College Vanderbilt University Peabody Box 160 Nashville, TN Claremont Graduate University (CGU) 925 No. Dartmouth Claremont, CA (615) Phone (615) Fax 1(866) 626-IRIS (4747) Toll Free