Choose Your Persona and Select your Text

Now that you completed your self assessment, it is time to choose a persona. Begin by reading the following paragraphs and determining which seems like the best or most fun fit.

PERSONA	Icon	Description	Strengths
	Linear Lou	I learn best by organizing. I want to set out the course, be clear about what the objectives are and have clear time lines. I like reading the text and then answering objective tests or working on essays that are clearly delineated. I could live my whole school life without committees and group work. I want to be clear about assignments from the beginning and I want to learn as much as possible, but I also want it to be clear about what the expectations are for each assignment. My motto: GET IT DONE!	Left Hemisphere is strong May be very linear in thinking Visual is often strong Probably like reading Strong feelings about ideas, and often vocal about them Typically have a good memory Like to be accurate and right

PERSONA	Icon	Description	Strengths
	Pensive Pat	I like a course to be organized, but I don't want to have to discover what it is all about, one piece at a time. I want to know what the objectives are, what the final outcome should be and then I want to get into the assignments. I can handle group work if I have to -- I like sharing my ideas with a small group, and I especially like opportunities to dig a little. Surface courses are really kind of a waste. I can be creative, but in a quiet, thorough way. Once I get started, I like to tie everything together so that it makes sense, fits together, and contributes to my understanding. My motto: MAKE IT MEANINGFUL! You will probably call the professors at least once, and you find many things to question.	Left Hemisphere is strong May be very organized in thinking and with respect to ideas Visual and auditory are often strong May be fairly quiet in class Typically have a good memory

PERSONA	Icon	Description	Strengths
	Caring Kit	I like a course to be stimulating. I hate it when I feel like I'm going to get marked down for every little thing, and I feel awful when I know I'm going to miss deadline and the teacher probably won't even be nice about it. I want to understand the children I will be working with. I just abhor objective tests with one right answer. I wish I never even had to take a test the rest of my life. Don't they trust me? I really prefer to share my ideas as I go along. I am a little worried about web courses, because I like to be able to share thoughts and ideas with others. I hope there is some way to do that as part of the course. It would be nice if the text had pictures and illustrations to go along with the content. I love those vignettes, too. Sometimes that's the only really good part of the text. My motto: MAKE A DIFFERENCE!	Right Hemisphere is strong or use both well Feelings really affect thinking Probably like school, especially being with friends Care deeply Learn by sharing ideas and insights

PERSONA	Icon	Description	Strengths
	Busy B.J.	Surfing the net to take a course sounds pretty cool. It would be nice if I didn't have a textbook, though. I never read them all the way through, anyway. I'd love it if I could just go out and get involved with students. Most courses are just the same old, same old. How about one where you talk to the people you are going to teach? My motto: LET'S GET ON WITH IT!	Right Hemisphere is strong Kinesthetic learning is critical Tactile learner Like many irons on the fire at once May not like school

This course is laid out as a series of learning opportunities. The objectives stay the same, regardless of the persona, but you can make choices about how you reach the objectives and how you provide proof of your learning.

You can certainly change personas as you go through the course. You may find it easiest to stay with one choice for an entire module, and that is strongly recommended. And yes, the rumors are true. There are texts to fit learning styles. There are actually three texts appropriate for the content of this class and you will probably want to pick one and stick with it. All text readings will be presented at the start of the course. Each text and reading list will cover all the topics and provide information that covers the course work. The course will be constructed so you can buy one text and do all readings in that one text even if you are changing personas in different modules.

SO! Who do you think presents the best way for you to learn the material? Please choose now and remember the symbol that goes with your choice. It will make it easier to spot your assignments and readings throughout your adventure in this course.

Linear Lou __________Pensive Pat __________Caring Kit __________Busy BJ

! Now proceed to purchasing a text. ! You will also find the options in the syllabus.

Go back to Introduction to Exceptional Children

E-mail J'Anne at Janne.Affeld@nau.edu or Martha at Martha.Affeld@nau.edu

Course developed by J'Anne and Martha Affeld

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