Colleen A. Thoma, PhD
Teacher's Manual
Teacher's Manual
Self-Determination
The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction
Examples
Assessment
Evaluation
Lesson Plan Resources
Self-Determination and Standards of Learning
Case Study - Chris
Chris is a 16 year old student attending a public high school. He has been diagnosed as having ADHD and takes medication for it. The ADHD impacts him in a limited way. His grades do not accurately reflect his ability. He gets in trouble in classes for talking and for being disorganized. Its difficult for his teachers to see his abilities.
Chris’s parents are an active part of his life and are concerned about his lack of focus. His parents want him to take his own medication and get organized. Both his parents work long hours, so they are not actively engaged in the school, although they work with him on homework and come into the school to meet with teachers when there is a problem.
Chris is very social and has many friends. He plays an electric guitar in a garage band, skateboards, and plays basketball on a neighborhood recreation league team. When Chris is at home, he typically plays on the computer and/or on video games. He also enjoys making home movies with friends. He understands technology and enjoys learning the newest inventions in this area.
Chris considers going to college if it is in a big city where music and films are part of the culture. He recently took his SATs with accommodations and scored a 2000; however he considered that day as the worst day of his life!
What will happen to Chris? How can the self-determined learning model of instruction be used with Chris?