Smild

Learning difficulties in mathematics do not often occur with clarity and simplicity. They manifest themselves differently in different people, and are often left undiagnosed.

The project’s main objectives are to provide math teachers with:

Protocols to determine the most appropriate solutions for the students with Learning Disabilities in Math
Reliable, easy to use and operative set of references materials and information to identify and tackle underachievement in Math.

The main target groups of the project are:

Math teachers
Students with Learning Disabilities in Math at secondary education level
Policy Makers in the Field of Education

The project activities will be organized in the following phases:

Phase 1 – Toolkit for tackling Learning Disabilities in Math
This phase is devoted to identify and define students’ Learning Disabilities in Math. It foresees 4 questionnaires:
2 addressed to teachers aiming at illustrating which difficulties a student may have and identifying the best strategies that the teacher can apply to tackle this difficulties.
The other 2 are addressed to students in order to identify their Learning Disabilities in Math.
Thanks to the results of the different questionnaires the project partners will be able to create new tools to monitor and intervene to overcome such Disabilities.
Phase 2 – Guidelines for the management of Learning Disabilities in Math
The first chapter deals with the legislation, policies and strategies to cope with Learning Disabilities in Math in the different partner countries.
The second chapter consists in an analysis of the consequences of Learning Disabilities in Math in the everyday life.
The third chapter deals with the instruments that help teachers and families to tackle such Disabilities.
Phase 3 – Training activity
A training course involving 9 teachers from the partners’ countries is organized by University of Genova in order to: promote the use of the intellectual outputs; provide the end users with the competences and information concerning Learning Disabilities in Math and how to deal with them.
Phase 4 - Multiplier events
A number of multiplier events will be organized to disseminate the results reached, the methodology implemented and output produced in the SMiLD project. The participants in the multiplier events will be higher education lecturers and students.

The main project deliverables include:

Toolkit for tackling Learning Disabilities in Math
Guidelines for the management of Learning Disabilities in Math