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Mind the gap: Tips and tools for supporting neurodiverse learners

Best Practices, Newsletter, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Everyone’s brain works differently; so, what works for one may not work for another. The diversity in how brains function—known as neurodiversity—can affect the way people communicate, learn, and process information. Neurodiversity can also lead to innovation, creativity, and breakthroughs. As we learn more about neurodiversity and see more students openly discussing their needs in our courses, we need to adjust our pedagogy and teaching practices. Teaching with neurodiversity in mind means recognizing that all students should be given the tools and opportunities to learn in ways that work for them. This is particularly important for students who may not thrive in traditional educational environments but can succeed with the right support. Recognizing neurodiversity in education can prompt us to create more inclusive, flexible, and supportive learning environments.

Ways to Support Neurodiverse Students 

Embracing neurodiversity in our courses means welcoming our students as they are. It can be challenging to set aside our expectations for how a class should be run, but embracing different ways of engaging in the classroom creates a more inclusive environment where all students can be themselves without having to conform to neurotypical behavioral norms to receive attention, praise, help, or respect. We can meet students where they are while still preserving the course’s learning objectives. The following are some strategies for how we can support all students, including neurodiverse students. 

  • Discuss your plans for the course. Share the class schedule early and often. Have a clear predictable schedule for class meetings and share what the day’s tasks are. 
  • Create opportunities for additional support. Start or encourage students to create study, reading, or writing groups (e.g., Navigate Study Buddies). Encourage or offer opportunities to attend tutoring services, like the University Writing Center. 
  • Give options to demonstrate learning and real-life applications of knowledge. When students can choose the medium of their assignments, incorporate their interests, or participate in authentic learning, they are more likely to connect to their work and retain it. 
  • Create opportunities for mistakes and growth. Establish an environment where students are met with understanding when they don’t meet requirements, miss work, or are wrong. Mistakes happen and should be an opportunity for growth, not embarrassment.
  • Focus on community and engagement, not compliance with class management. Students may need to eat, drink, fidget, move, or leave the classroom to concentrate or to regulate their feelings and sensory experiences. If it’s dangerous or a distraction for students to do so, establish a space within your classroom or outside of it (e.g., if you’re in a lab or studio) where students can move and take care of their needs freely.
  • Be open to students contacting you in varying ways. Don’t scold students for emailing or messaging outside of your work hours—you don’t need to answer messages immediately. Create a meeting menu to give students options for how to meet with you. 
  • Talk through tasks. Identify steps to accomplish work and what’s due for the next class. Give students opportunities to reflect on and process new concepts and tasks with you. Scaffold coursework, and be transparent about each process and why it’s happening. 

Helpful Tools and Techniques 

To support their success, neurodiverse students may benefit from strategies that enhance executive functioning skills, particularly in areas like organization and task management. There are a multitude of digital tools can help students create to do lists, organize their tasks, and scaffold their work. 

  • Office Tasks is available to everyone at NIU and allows users to create to do lists with deadlines and reminders connected to the user’s Outlook and Teams account 
  • Goblin Tools is a tool to create work lists and breaks projects down into smaller, more approachable tasks 
  • Evernote allows users to create and organize notes, documents, task lists, and planners, keeping all associated materials in one place 
  • Todoist is an app where users can create task lists calendars, and daily planners, as well as rank the priorities of the tasks and keep track of the tasks of others 

Beyond organization and task management, technology can also play a crucial role in supporting neurodiverse students’ learning by enhancing their ability to process and retain information. Neurodiverse students can benefit from technology that allows them listen to and read materials simultaneously, helping them dual code the information and increase retention. 

  • NaturalReader is a text-to-speech app that works with any PDFs, documents, ebooks, and even images 
  • Speak is a text-to-speech feature included in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote 
  • Read Aloud is a text-to-speech feature available on Microsoft Edge and  

In addition to supporting information retention, technology can also assist neurodiverse students in maintaining focus and managing their workload more efficiently. There are also tools that can help users to stay on track to complete their work and study more effectively. 

  • brain.fm is a music app that helps users focus and better engage their brain  
  • The Pomodoro Technique encourages time-management by reducing work and breaks into timed session, letting users recognize what they’ve accomplished while still giving them opportunities for rest 

By utilizing available tools and strategies, neurodiverse students can develop essential skills, enhance their learning experiences, and navigate academic challenges more effectively.

Final Thoughts 

As we welcome an increasingly diverse student body into our classrooms, let’s normalize the understanding that different brains require different approaches to learning. While the tools and strategies above are helpful for brains who thrive outside of traditional learning methods, they can also assist anyone struggling with organization and concentration, regardless of the reason. Ultimately, meeting students’ diverse needs isn’t a burden when we design our courses and schedules with flexibility and empathy in mind.

Resources 

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