Neurodivergence in the Online Classroom: Creating A Sensory-Friendly Learning Environment

March 29, 2024 byConnections Academy

6 min to read

如果你在养一个神经分化的孩子, 尤其是那些被诊断患有自闭症谱系障碍的人, 你可能已经意识到感觉处理是如何影响他们的日常生活的. It is estimated that 在美国，每36个家庭中就有一个.S. 患有自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)的儿童, 会影响社交技能, speech, and communication. 虽然这是一种比较出名的疾病, there are a range of other neurodivergent disorders students may also experience.

从学习的角度来看, 了解什么样的环境对他们有益是很有挑战性的.

A sensory-friendly教室 can improve your student’s education and encourage them to focus. Caregivers of neurodivergent online school students have a unique opportunity to create an atmosphere that is safe, comfortable, and best of all, controlled, 因为他们对孩子如何在家学习有最终的投入.

当你开始在家里创造一个感官友好的学习环境, 在开始之前，你需要知道这些.

神经分化意味着什么?

Neurodiversity refers to people who interact with the world around them in different ways. 虽然这些互动可能是不同的, 它们不应该被视为个人的“错误”. A neurodivergent person simply sees the world differently from what is considered “typical.”

For example, 信息的处理可能会更慢或更快, which can often be most obvious in everyday tasks such as reading because they retain information at different rates.

神经分化的常见类型

Autism

Autism is known as a spectrum disorder 因为自闭症患者的自闭症特征是多种多样的, how they present, 以及他们需要的支持. Previously, it had subtypes such as Aspergers and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), 但现在它们都被归入自闭症的范畴.

Autistic students may face barriers with socializing, repetitive behaviors, and speech difficulties. Some autistic children even find it difficult to develop and understand spoken language or have no verbal language at all.

患有自闭症的学生也可能对某些声音和风景敏感, 哪些会导致超负荷或焦虑.

ADHD

According to the CDC, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most 常见神经发育障碍 of childhood. While it can be identified in behaviors like impulsivity and having difficulties focusing, 患有多动症的学生也可能会忘记或丢失东西, daydream often, squirm, 甚至冒不必要的风险.

如果你的K-12在线学校的学生有多动症, you may have seen them “zone out” during a class session or become distracted while completing simple tasks. There have likely also been times you’ve asked them to complete chores or homework, 它要么被遗忘，要么只完成了一部分.

People with ADHD are often very energetic; however, 因为他们很容易分心, a sensory area in the classroom can help them learn to regulate their focus and keep them on task.

Dyslexia

这种形式的神经分化包括说、读和写. 而很多人认为 dyslexia as misreading or seeing letters backward or out of order, it’s much more than that. For instance, 有阅读障碍的学生可能会混淆字母, 组织句子有困难, 甚至在发音上也有困难.

尽管他们在这些方面经常遇到困难, 诵读困难的人通常有很多优点, 比如创造力和解决问题的能力. This is especially beneficial when it comes to creating a sensory-friendly教室 where they are able to put their skills to the test.

如何适应你的神经发散型学生

Online school students who experience sensory overload may face some challenges while learning. However, 通过直接解决他们的需求, 你可以创造一种压力较小的氛围，并鼓励更好的参与, pacing, 并控制他们的教育.

Check out some of these sensory items for the classroom and tactics you can implement to help your student get the most out of their learning.

使用烦躁玩具作为学习辅助工具

Having some fidget toys your students can use throughout the day is a great way to keep them focused. Fidget spinners, for example, are a useful sensory item for autistic students or those with ADHA because instead of allowing their minds to wander, fidget spinners provide a good amount of sensory input so their minds can stay on track.

除了指尖陀螺, you might also consider having a stress ball or putty in your sensory-friendly教室.

而神经发散型学生可能会不知所措, tools like these help them concentrate and filter out extra sensory information.

Remove Distractions

许多神经分化的学生很容易分心. 通过消除课堂上的干扰, 在家学习的同时，你可以帮助他们做最好的自己. 让他们走上正轨, 你可以提供降噪耳机，这样他们就可以忽略小的, 每天发生在他们周围的干扰.

You could also consider setting up a “quiet corner” where they have complete silence in a decluttered space. 这也不需要在他们的感官友好的学习空间. It could be in the hallway or any area in your home that your student is most comfortable in.

This will allow your student a safe space to process their feelings and emotions throughout the day.

Use Natural Light

Using nature to your advantage can be a game-changer in your neurodiverse student’s learning. 办公桌和荧光灯也有它们的好处, 它们也可能引起光敏感, 这会增加焦虑, discomfort, and irritability.

在你的学习环境中使用自然光, 你可以提高你的在线学校学生的情绪，增加他们的注意力. 在其他自闭症教室必备的东西中, 自然光可以释放血清素，让你的房间感觉更舒适.

利用视觉元素发挥你的优势

Another tactic you can use to help create a sensory-friendly教室 is utilizing visual elements where possible. Like most children, neurodiverse students process information better when they see it. This can look like creating a visual daily routine in the form of a calendar or schedule for them to read each day.

Routines are extremely important for neurodivergent students because they are predictable and reliable, 什么能让他们感到安全, 尤其是在学习新东西的时候. Neurodiverse students tend to thrive in repetition, so it’s no surprise that structure works best.

而不是写下他们的课堂惯例, 给他们的桌子画画、贴贴纸或插图, lunchtime snacks, 或者是代表他们课堂作业的符号.

Incorporate Movement

Spending time on virtual school sessions all day can make it difficult for some students to pay attention. 如果你把运动融入到一天中, 它可以作为一种受欢迎的休息和释放多余能量的方式. 这也可以让学生重新振作起来，帮助他们专注于自己的课程.

研究甚至表明，当你让所有的学生都有时间运动时，它增加他们的能力 to learn. So, 当你在建造你的家时, sensory-friendly教室, 及时让学生起床走动. This can be a short walk, five-minute stretch, or even 30 seconds of jogging in place. Wherever you can fit a few minutes of movement into the day, be sure to take advantage of it.

A sensory-friendly教室 can help your neurodivergent student become more confident in their abilities.

If you want to learn more about how to support your neurodiverse student, check out this article on 多元智能和不同的学习方式.