Socio cultural learning in schools and colleges and its impact upon students who have autism

Written on 31st May 2013 by Sylvia Lowery

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Socio cultural learning is an approach that stresses the importance of learning involving ‘tools’. Tools can be physical tools such as a calculator or psychological tools such as reading or speaking.

Image by Alex Lowery. It is important to remember that we all learn differently.
Saljo (1999) suggests that all learning involves the use of tools and competence with such tools is essential to becoming an effective member of society.

It is also suggested that being able to adopt the culture of the institution whether it is a school, workplace or college is as important as learning the subjects being studied. This approach is widespread across educational institutions.

Facilitated learning places emphasis on the use of explorative talk. Gaining the skills in this way of talking is often seen as being as important as learning the information. The name of this approach to learning is facilitated learning.

What does facilitated learning mean for the student who has autism?

1. Having a conversation can be stressful for an individual with autism. It takes a lot of mental processing to have an everyday conversation. This approach to learning disadvantages those who have autism.
2. Often at University students are assessed on their participation in facilitated learning. To use an analogy this is like assessing a person who can’t walk on their ability to run a marathon.
3. Autistic children in a classroom that takes this approach are disadvantaged because a lot of group talk raises the noise level. This means these children will become more stressed.

These are just some of the negative effects of facilitated learning.

How can a schools or colleges become more autism friendly?

1. Provide alternative ways to learn.
2. Don’t use this approach to learning as an assessment tool.
3. Provide a quiet place where those who have autism can retreat.
4. Have a more individual approach to learning, know your students and allow for differences. Alex learns IT skills by being allowed to explore the computer. If he is stuck on something he will watch a YouTube video on the subject.

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