Providing Culturally Competent Disability Services to Persons Born in other Countries May 6 - 8, 2002

One hour roundtable on ramifications of traditional vs differentiated instruction on culturally different students

Given, B.
Director, Adolescent Learning Research Center
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
bgiven@gmu.edu

Round table: Marshall, C.

Abstract

Native peoples of Alaska's interior are held accountable for academic standards commensurate with those in the lower 48 states, yet cultural conflicts between the village world and the school world create loss of identity, lack of leadership, low self-est eem, alcohol and drug addictions, and high rates of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in students. Marshall reports on learning style research from eight villages, (195 students, grades 6 - 12), and emphasizes the importance of culture for instruction. Haggert repor ts on several California schools where approximately 40% of the enrollees are English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The learning style profiles of entire school populations have determined specific instructional interventions. Th e results are fascinating, and provide direction for further intervention and research.

Return to Presentations Index