About the Project
Biology Success! was an innovative project based at Landmark College in Putney, VT and funded by the National Science Foundation's Research in Disabilities Education program (HRD No. - 0004264). Biology Success! asserts that students with learning differences can succeed in high school and college introductory biology courses when the curriculum has been designed to respond to their learning needs. The heterogeneous classes in America's schools are representative of the national average of between 10% and 20% of the population estimated to have dyslexia, attention-deficit disorder or other specific learning disabilities. We believe that these students can learn beside traditional learners in the biology classroom and laboratory, if science educators present and reinforce course content in a way that benefits the learning styles of those with learning differences. These same teaching and learning strategies can be beneficial to traditional learners as well.
To accomplish this goal, the Biology Success staff worked closely with several faculty from collaborating institutions (Keene High School, NH; Keene State College, NH; Marlboro College, VT; and the Community High School of Vermont) to develop the book Biology Success! Teaching Diverse Learners: A Resource Manual for Biology Educators (published early 2005), create a modest companion web site, and host professional development workshops for biology educators. The book, web site and workshops provide faculty at the secondary and post-secondary levels with the methodology to apply Landmark College's guiding educational principles to classroom and laboratory instruction, thereby greatly advancing the success of those with learning disabilities in science.
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