During my initial school placement I conducted a small scale case study in differentiation in special education. That case study was centred around Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is the most common cause of a learning disability. It is a genetic chromosomal disorder affecting 1/556 births in Ireland. People with D.S. have an additional number 21 chromosome, so their chromosomal count amounts to 47 instead of 46.

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While students with Down syndrome may share certain physical traits, each student is an individual and the level of general learning disability will range from mild to profound. According to Down Syndrome Ireland, increasing numbers of students with Down syndrome are opting to attend a mainstream Post-Primary school. For this reason, it is important that teachers are aware and educated on how to differentiate for students with Down Syndrome. 

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In this case study, I gathered evidence of the best teaching and learning approaches for this particular student. This was done through observation, discussion with colleagues, and gathering data such as images of student works, reflective worksheets, questionnaires, and observational notes in my research diary. By examining my data through Brookfield's four lenses, I was able to gain perspective on what methods were most effective and identify the most suitable teaching and learning approaches for Student A. The results of this case study are presented below in screencast format.

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