STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Hand out An Image. Make sure that you hand it so that it will look like a face to the tutor. The word liar will run vertically on the page to create the outline of a face.
  2. Ask one tutor, “What is it?” She will respond either that it is a face or the word liar.
  3. Whatever the answer, say that it is wrong, and ask other tutors until you get the other answer.
  4. Describe how to see the image you wanted, if necessary, to tutors who still can’t see it.
  5. State that there are really two images in this picture. However, a learner who has visual-processing difficulties may often not get the “correct” answer. They process the visual information in a different way.
  6. Tell them that they have just experienced a visual-processing problem simulation. Learners may not process visual information in the way that is familiar to us. They may need help to make sense of the visual information. Point out that tutors can begin to help learners in a more supportive way than by stating “You’re wrong.”

Activity D (optional activity)

Visual processing of text

This looks at a problem with decoding a reading text.

Why choose this activity?

You should use one of the simulations (Activity A, B, C or D) to give a taste of what it is like to have a learning disability. Tutors will easily relate to this decoding problem by trying to read the strange text.

Facilitation tip

It’s always a good idea to try out whatever you are asking tutors to do. You learn the concept and learn how to best facilitate the activity.


Simulation of problem

Materials and equipment

Handout 10.6: Decoding Simulation

Preparation

Copy handout.
Read the handout yourself.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Hand out Decoding Simulation.
  2. Ask tutors to read the passage in a round-robin fashion. Remind them to “sound it out.” Help out as necessary (hint – the p’s, d’s, q’s and d’s are often flipped around and the words are spaced differently).
  3. Tell them that some learners may have visual processing problems that make decoding a text difficult. In this example, there are problems in organizing the position and shape of what is seen. Also the spaces between words are not maintained. Trouble with decoding will lead to trouble with comprehension.