Teaching Mathematics to Adolescents with Disabilities in a Multimedia Environment

• Published in: Intervention in school and clinic Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 113 - 116
• Main Authors: Bottge, Brian A., Hasselbring, Ted S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.1999; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Active Learning; Calculators; Fractions; General Education; High School Students; Interpersonal Competence; Learning Disabilities; Learning disabled children; Learning Motivation; Males; Mathematical Aptitude; Mathematics; Mathematics Achievement; Mathematics Instruction; Mathematics Teachers; Mathematics Tests; Middle School Students; Middle Schools; Multimedia; National Competency Tests; National Surveys; Numbers; Secondary School Students; Secondary Schools; Students with Disabilities; Teaching aids; USA; Video Technology; World Problems
• ISSN: 1053-4512; 1538-4810
• DOI: 10.1177/105345129903500208

Many US students perform poorly at mathematics according to both national studies and international comparisons, and attempts are being made to link teaching more closely to the real world. Developing new approaches is difficult because many students are disillusioned with maths, and students with learning disabilities are further disadvantaged by lack of appropriate social skills, motivation and higher order thinking skills. Describes the use of a series of home-made 'video anchors' (the Bart Adventures) as a way of improving problem-solving skills in class of learning disabled middle school pupils. These present a range of real life situations which require maths for their solution and allow the students, working as a team, to search the videodisc and other resources for appropriate information.