AUTISM AND EDUCATION  
October 2, 2024

 

“There is a better way to teach us.”

What do these famous people have in common?   Elon Musk (Inventor, Entrepreneur, One of world’s richest men), Dan Aykroid (Actor and Film Writer), Tim Burton (Film Director) Daryl Hannah (Actress and Environmental Activist), Temple Grandin (Professor of Animal Sciences), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Dr. Vernon Smith (Professor of Economics) Susan Boyle (Singer), Jerry Seinfeld (Actor, Comedian).   They all have one of the disorders on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism.

WHAT IS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)?

For folks diagnosed with autism, their brains are wired differently.  They see the world differently.  They react to the world differently.  Picture an Imaginary straight line going through the brain of an ASD diagnosed person.  It is there, some think, when the baby is born and is called the “Autism Spectrum Disorder Line”. Imbedded in this imaginary line could be one or more of these disorders which we now have designated – Autism, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD), Dyslexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Synesthesia. Together, all these different words are called “Neurodiversity” or “Brain (Neurological) Differences”.

Of course, the words/designations are invisible to the eye, but as the baby grows older we are able to see the behaviors that fit one or more of the differences. Simply explained, the differences are normally seen in communication, learning and behavior, although it may look different from person to person, and with autism, there are levels or degrees of complexity.

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN AUTISM, NEURODIVERSITY AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES?

Those famous people mentioned above achieved marvelous things in their lives.  Autism did cause some challenges in their lives, but they accomplished great things, perhaps, BECAUSE of their autism.  Autistic people see things in pictures in their brains and they are brilliant with creating projects.  For example,  Elon Musk created a project, a car named “Tesla,” the best electric vehicle we have in the country.  He is also called “Rocket Man” and has developed another project,  a spaceship called “Starship.”  Bill Gates created a project – a computer that revolutionized the way we do business and live our lives.  Tim Burton’s projects are movies. He “sees” making movies differently and uses his autism to create amazing plots. Other great people, who are believed to have been autistic or neurodiverse are Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Michelangelo, Alanzo Clemons, Amadeus Mozart, Hans Christian Anderson, Sir Issac Newton.  Each one of these people brought something special to the world.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TEACH AUTISTIC OR NEURODIVERSE INDIVIDUALS?

Most educational methods have not changed over the years.    Some educators have tried to make changes over the last 60 years, and recently they are trying again with Common Core, but have they really made changes that will be for the best for neurodiverse students?

Because of the increase of neurodiverse students in the schools, we must ask the question, are the typical methods of classroom teaching, i.e. reading chapters from a book, taking tests on the material, even Common Core changes, are they the best methods for students who see the world differently?

There is a better way to teach autistic and neurodiverse students called PROJECT-BASED LEARNING.  Autistic and neurodiverse people are applauded for creating projects that have influenced humanity.  Why not use project-based teaching methods in the classroom to help them learn all subjects?   Also, neurodiversity presents students with unique challenges.  These include:
* Communicating feelings and thoughts
* Understanding how others think and feel
*.Being overwhelmed by bright lights or loud noises
* Ability to focus for a length of time, anxiety
There are great things about autism and neurodiversity also.  These include:
*.Attention to detail
* Creativity
* Enhanced problem solving
* Pattern recognition

Project-Based Learning gives autistic and neurodiverse students the opportunity to USE THEIR SKILLS and UNIQUE ABILITIES as they learn the conventional subjects taught in the schools rather than having a hard time understanding how others think and feel or being anxious or bullied because they are wired differently.

WHAT IS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING?

Project-Based Learning is just that – a project.  Project-Based Learning includes these basic things:
1.  Solving a real-world problem.
2.  A driving question that students need to answer
3.  Workshops given by the teacher to teach any necessary concepts to complete the
project.
4.  A presentation of the project at the end of the term.
5.  A rubric of classroom components and standards of accomplishment

For example, English and music students could perhaps begin with a real-world problem, such as “How can we create a masterpiece of music, poetry, literature or art as the masters did a hundred years ago?”   The project at the end of the term is to produce a grade level student “masterpiece.”    To do so students will have to study and research masterpieces, and the masters who created them, to determine what is a “masterpiece.”  In the process they learn to research, to write, to organize thoughts, history, to delve into their computers and search out information on their own. They have to use their problem solving skills and pattern recognition skills to ferret out what the masters did to produce an outstanding, artistic work.  They will learn what a masterpiece is, rather than just being told what a masterpiece is.  Then, after accumulating all this information and understanding they will use their creative skills and create their own, new masterpiece.

Another project for math could be to build a bridge.  “How can we use our math and architecture  skills to build a bridge that would span the Potomac River?”  Imagine the fun, and excitement it would be to fulfill this challenge?  Students would have to work together, solve problems together, and along the way, learn math, physics, and all sorts of other disciplines to accomplish the project.

The project allows neurodiverse students to do the things they do best.  Additionally, and probably, most importantly, Project-Based Learning automatically fulfills the 4 C’s of Education that employers are looking for in the new hires for their businesses, namely, CREATIVITY,  COMMUNICATION, COORDINATING, CRITICAL THINKING.  Traditional educational classes are just now having to teach teachers how to include these four C’s in their classrooms.

The famous people mentioned above reached their full potential and success by creating projects – electric car, movies, a comedic performance, a song, a computer, etc.  Temple Grandin changed the world of animal science.  Let’s  change the world of education by using “a better way” for autistic and neurodiverse individuals – Project- Based Learning.