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Authenticity In Learning

Multimedia Design Projects In The Social Studies For Students With Disabilities

Ralph P. Ferretti is an associate professor of educational studies and psychology at the University of Delaware. His research interests include problem solving, argument, and technology.

Cynthia M. Okolo

Cynthia M. Okolo is an associate professor of educational studies at the University of Delaware. Her research interests are technology and literacy. Address: Ralph P. Ferretti or Cynthia M. Okolo, Department of Educational Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716.

Proponents of educational reform highlight the importance of creating instructional environments that encourage students‘ active involvement in the learning process. To be so involved, students with and without disabilities must construct knowledge, evaluate the products of their work, and engage in the design of solutions to authentic problems. We believe that these goals are especially important for students with disabilities, many of whom are passive learners who experience difficulty with the flexible use of knowledge and skills. Our analysis of the research evidence leads us to conclude that students‘ thinking skills and attitudes are enhanced when they collaborate in the solution of authentic problems. We view the social skills curriculum as a rich source of authentic problems that affords opportunities to promote thinking by enabling argument about controversial issues. Further, we contend that educational multimedia are potentially powerful tools for constructing knowledge, especially when used in collaborative project-based instructional environments, or multimedia design projects. We review evidence about the efficacy of multimedia design projects in promoting students‘ construction of knowledge, thinking, and problem solving, and discuss some potential challenges to the efficacy of this approach.

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 29, No. 5, 450-460 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/002221949602900501


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