The creation of task-based differentiated learning materials for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

Abstract

Horizon is a European funded project whose aim is to increase employment opportunities for students with disabilities or learning difficulties. A working cafe/ restaurant (Cafe Horizon) has been established in East London, staffed by students involved in this project. Part of the project involved the creation of multimedia units, linked directly to Level 1 NVQ Catering and Business Studies, to support the training of the Cafe horizon workers. One challenge of this work was to produce learning material that could be configured for the cafe worker in respect of their particular individual learning problems. To this end, a measure of differentiation was achieved in some learning units based on language level of the learner and subject level of the delivery. This paper describes the ways in which tasks are used within some of the multimedia applications to provide differential challenged for Cafe Horizon workers. Future work is planned where the individual learning style of the Cafe Horizon workers is considered.