Project ADVANCE |
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What is Project ADVANCE?
Project ADVANCE is a 5-week summer program to prepare high school students with specific learning disabilities for the challenges of university. Often, familiar supports may not be as available to the student (e.g., parents, teachers, and coaches), requiring increased motivation, organization, responsibility, and assertiveness. Students with learning disabilities increase their awareness of the challenges of university and of the skills required for success.
What does Project ADVANCE offer?
Project ADVANCE offers a unique program of study to students with learning disabilities. Students learn about academic strategies, study and life skills, adaptive technologies, and the availability of campus support.
In addition, students have the opportunity to learn more about learning disabilities in general, their particular areas of academic strength, and other issues related to self-advocacy, social relationships, and emotional well-being. Project ADVANCE allows students to meet and study in a supporting, self-enhancing environment.
What will I study at Project ADVANCE?
Project ADVANCE provides an integrated curriculum designed to increase competence and self-efficacy for students with learning disabilities. Students study:
- Reading and writing strategies for university level materials
- Computer skills and adaptive technologies
- Note-taking
- Study skills
- Strategies for test-taking
- Ways to improve memory
- Time management
- Stress management
How can I benefit from Project ADVANCE?
Students who participate will benefit from:
- An increased understanding of the expectations and standards of university courses;
- Instruction in critical academic and life skills;
- Experience in studying at a university level;
- Participation in campus life; and
- Affiliation with other students with learning disabilities.
What's available for parents at Project ADVANCE?
Project ADVANCE offers workshops designed to help parents provide appropriate support for their adolescent in the transition from high school to university.
Sometimes, parents may be uncertain about how best to support their young adult child in the achievement of academic goals. We help parents to establish the type of support which promotes self-efficacy and independence for students with learning disabilities.
How do I apply to Project ADVANCE?
Project ADVANCE is available to students with learning disabilities who are residents of the Province of Ontario. Regardless of where you plan to attend university, this program will prepare you for your transition. You are eligible to attend if you have:
- A psychological report documenting a primary diagnosis of specific learning disabilities
- An average of 65% or higher in six grade 12 U or M courses
- A letter of recommendation from an educator at your high school
- A personal statement (250-500 words) indicating why you want to attend Project Advance
If you are interested in attending Project ADVANCE, please complete and submit this application package (download the 39KB pdf). A $200 registration fee is required; this fee is refunded pending an 80% attendance record. Residence accommodations are available for students outside of the Toronto area.
Registration deadline for Project ADVANCE 2009 has been extended to June 12, 2009.
Academic Program Outline
Note: All individual assignments will be done within the confines of class-time. It is not expected that students will work outside of class. The number of sessions devoted to a particular topic is flexible and can be changed to accommodate the needs of the students.
Computer Skills and Assistive Technologies
- 3 Lectures
- 8 tutorials (minimum)
- Introduction to assistive technologies available
- Learning how to integrate these technologies into the demands of university assignments
- Individual assignment
Reading University Level Materials
- 12 lectures
- On-going tutorials (daily)
- Learning about the different type of texts at the university level (textbooks, journals, articles)
- Highlighting techniques
- Active Reading Strategies
- Learning how to Inference (read between the lines)
- Knowing what to do with material once you have read it
- Individual assignment
Critical Reasoning/Writing
- 13 lectures
- On-going tutorials (daily)
- Types of writing at the university level
- Argument Structure
- Learning how to identify errors in logic
- Grammar review
- Individual Assignments
Self-Advocacy
- 4 - 8 seminars
- Individual Meetings with Saima to discuss individual profiles
- On-going Discussion Throughout
- Understanding your individual learning disability
- Being able to explain your learning disability to others
- Knowing what accommodations are helpful to you and why
- How to ask for what you need
- Self-Disclosure (in the work-place as well)
- Learning where the support systems are at your university
Note-Taking
- 3 seminars
- On-Going Evaluation
- The purpose for taking notes
- Comparative note-taking exercise
- What is worth noting
- Aids to Note-taking
- Ways of organizing the page
- Organizing notes so that they are useful later
- Note-taking Systems
- Individual assignment where students' notes will be evaluated and suggestions made to improve the process
Study Skills
- 2 formal lectures
- On-going Topic of Discussion
- What are Study Skills?
- Define a "good student"
- Role of Background Knowledge
- Attitudes and Beliefs
- Strategies
- Environment-setting Strategies
- Mind-Engaging Strategies
- Learning about the resources at your individual university
Test-Taking
- 3 seminars
- factors affecting performance - anxiety, memory issues, planning
- Multiple Choice
- Essay Tests
- Short Answer Tests
- T/F and Fill-in the Blank Tests
- organization of study time - % rule of thumb
- memory tricks - cue cards, vocab lists, test questions
- planning of response
- Actual Evaluation
Memory
- 3 seminars
- How memory works
- Factors affecting memory
- The 3 R's
- Concentration and attention>
- Tips for Improving
- Staying Focused
Time Management
- 2 lectures
- How time is different in university vs. high school
- Planning your time
- Evaluating your plan
- Knowing how much time things really take to do
- Individual Assignment
Stress Management
- 3 Lectures
- Defining stress
- Symptoms of stress: emotional, behavioural, physical
- Dealing with stress
- Proactive
- Reactive
- Palliative
- Curative
- Strategies
- Adaptation Strategies
- Symptom reduction Strategies
- Problem Solving Strategies
- Prevention Strategies
Math
- 2 sessions
- What math is needed at university
- Practical applications/approaches
Multi-media Project
- Students will also have the opportunity to do a group project in which they will plan, research and implement an oral presentation using PowerPoint and other mutli-media technologies.
To inquire further about Project ADVANCE, please contact:
Maureen Haig, B.Ed., M.A.
Educational Specialist
Manager Assistive Technology Lab
Coordinator, Project ADVANCE
Learning Disabilities Program
Counselling and Development Centre
The Bennett Centre for Student Services, RM204D
York University
4700 Keele Street
North York, Ontario
M3J 1P3
Telephone: 416-736-2100 x66011
Fax: 416-736-5350
E-mail: maureen@yorku.ca
(or)
Marc Wilchesky, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Director, Learning Disabilities Program
Room N110, Bennett Centre for Student Services
Telephone: 416-736-5297
E-mail: marc@yorku.ca
Counselling and Development Centre (CDC)
Tel: 416-736-5297
Location: N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services
