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About the project.An approach to dyslexia Dyslexia can be viewed as a difference in patterns of thinking: a difficulty in some learning contexts and a strength in others. By making teaching inclusive of a range of approaches to learning, fewer contexts will arise that can create difficulties and there will be more opportunities to make use of strengths. Sometimes inclusive teaching is not sufficient to ensure that a dyslexic student is not placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to their peers. Making reasonable adjustments to a teaching method or an assessment can address an inequality, without compromising academic standards. Website production The website was produced by Christine Carter and Dr Barbara Taylor (Academic Support) with a local web development company, Design for Purpose Ltd., whose Director, Dr John Walsh, has worked with students at the University in both teaching and support capacities. The approach is to show staff what their students are saying and what their colleagues are doing, rather than tell staff how they should undertake their teaching. This approach is not only appropriate in supporting the development of teaching in a University, but particularly when publishing a website in this area. The aim is to engage visitors with issues, provoke questions, and share practice, in the understanding that most teaching development happens away from the computer screen in conversation with colleagues, through interactions with students, and in private reflection and planning. Video production
The PESL project is a key element of the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy, with its aim of "encouraging and disseminating good and innovative practice in support of high quality learning and teaching". The University's Teaching website promotes sharing good practice and discussion on teaching as a core element in the role of staff who teach at the University. The video interviews were conducted by Dr Kate Exley, an educational consultant who has experience of interviewing for videos on the PESL Teaching website and on the University's PGCHE website. The original footage was arranged into short videos by Kate with Dr Rachel Scudamore, PESL Project Director. The video cameraman, Roger George of Gogglebox Video Productions, makes the process as inobtrusive as possible as well as taking care of the preparation of specified clips for publication on the website. Julie Ryan and Sarah Turner created the transcripts for the videos, and Teri Browett prepared the transcripts for publication on the website. Collaborating on video production with projects such as this Academic Support website on dyslexia is one way in which the PESL (Promoting Enhanced Student Learning) project supports a range of developmental activities across the University. Project funding The production of this website was funded by a successful bid to the University's HEFCE Disability Funding allocation. The project, to develop a resource for academic staff to support their work with students with dyslexia, has involved close collaboration with the University's PESL project, which supported the video production element of the work. Some of these videos are also available from the PESL Teaching website. |
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