Five sentence summary Projects requiring a narrow focus and a lot of depth, whether these are final class projects, or PhD dissertations, can be a serious source of struggle for ADHD brains. We are likely to get bored over time, we have trouble sorting our thoughts and organizing which is no small problem when the project requires depth. How you coach and adapt for your ADHD learners can make the process much easier. By questioning the learning goals for the work, allowing for increased creativity, and supporting your ADHD learners with check-ins and guidance on prioritizing, you stand a chance at some really successful work. Working on a singular project for an extended period of time often does not go well for ADHD folks. A narrow focus can exacerbate ADHD issues. Whether it's a master's thesis or an undergraduate independent research study, forcing and expecting ADHD folks to focus on one narrow topic often backfires. Our minds jump from idea to idea, we make creative connections, and how our brain focuses is different from those without ADHD. If you're really interested in making things more accessible for ADHD folks, you might have to check your ableism. Question your assumptions Yes, graduate school or a final term paper is supposed to be hard. I am not suggesting we remove rigor. Before we go any further, park those assumptions about rigor someplace else. Ask yourself, what ultimately is the point of this assignment? What is the learning objective? Will my student be any less prepared for the career they envision if they do a master's thesis with two sections that are related but maybe a little less closely than I would like? It might seem like giving your student some breathing room and flexibility is a recipe for disaster, but why? If they've expressed the need for something more general, something that allows them to follow their passion, there is likely a middle ground and you only have to find it.
Is a ten to twenty page literature review on one narrow topic my only option for preparing this student to begin lab work, field work, analysis? If I know my student will get bored easily, will get frustrated quickly, and will find the level of detail needed tedious and overbearing (and their brain is structured in a way that makes these outcomes more likely), how can I help them? What options exist that will ensure my student is prepared to start research and yet also works with their brain and their needs? Am I asking my student to adhere to these standards because I think it will make them a better researcher or am I asking them because this is what the department expects?
0 Comments
Five sentence summary Telling students to focus is unhelpful and potentially harmful advice. If someone with ADHD is struggling to focus, chances are that they are well aware of this and they are trying their best. Help them by determining if they need to focus right now, identifying what has previously worked in the past, and what tools and resources they might have forgotten about. Brainstorm ways to add novelty, urgency, challenge, and interest. Listen and work with the student. Telling ADHD students to focus on their school work is completely useless advice. It sounds obvious, but I recently read an article for ADHD students that advised them to focus on their school work. ADHD is defined by problems regulating attention, problems in our brains (review the science of ADHD). If we could focus on our work at will, we wouldn't have ADHD. "Try and focus" is a variation of the dreaded "Just try harder" that everyone with ADHD has heard since the beginning of time. We are trying, we do want to focus, we aren't happy our brains are like this, and we aren't purposefully trying to be difficult. Acting as though it is as simple as buckling down and focusing for ADHD learners is harmful and reiterates the idea that this is our fault and it's our own lack of willpower. Although this is rarely the case, it is this type of thinking many ADHD folks have withstood our entire lives. Combine this type of talk with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and you've got a recipe for alienating a person and lowering their self-worth. |
Categories
All
AuthorThere's a reason theADHDAcademic is an anonymous account and there's a reason why this website will remain anonymous. That said, there are some basics it might be helpful to know about me: DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional or a lawyer of any kind. All text, graphics, and content on this website are for educational purposes only. Any and all content should not be substituted for medical or legal advice. Although I strive to provide the most accurate, current, and scientifically sound information, content should never be substituted for professional advice. Always consult a medical and/or legal professional before making any decisions. Links are provided only for reference and do not necessarily imply endorsement.
|