Presented by: Maria McLoughlin and Simon Rekab
To highlight the MIND strengths of people with dyslexia and how Education Innovation Clusters and Maker Learning spaces in the US are driving breakthrough learning practices that particularly suit dyslexic learners. As teachers the primary goal should not be to fix dyslexic minds, but to understand, nurture, guide and mentor their talents. Technology offers a tremendous opportunity to support learning in new and different ways. For dyslexic students, technology opens doors and allows them to demonstrate their knowledge in ways that were unimaginable in the past. The presentation will provide information on apps that can be used to develop critical thinking, spatial awareness, interconnected and dynamic reasoning from a host of publishers including Microsoft and Google.
Presenter Biography:
Maria was diagnosed with dyslexia in my early 30’s, founder of Dys-Connect. Completed Dyslexia Teaching Training with the DAI; graduated with a BA (Hons) in Community & Adult Education from Maynooth University and with the HDip in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Dublin Business School. Currently the Jobs Club Manager for the Dublin Northwest Area Local Employment Service. Simon Rekab is an Afro Celtic Designer/Maker from Dublin with a background in electronics and furniture design. He graduated from NCAD with a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design in 2016. His most recent work has been in Prop making for TV, Film Set and stage. Simon was diagnosed with dyslexia from a young age and struggled to find his path in life till he found a use for his problem solving abilities through design and fabrication. Currently a freelance design consultant for multiple industries across ireland and europe.