Make team-based learning work for neurodivergent students

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Team-based learning in science education improves academic outcomes and develops crucial workplace skills. However, it presents challenges for those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia or any other form of neurodiversity. 

Many neurodivergent individuals find group work and processing information quickly difficult, and get distracted easily.

This kind of learning is challenging for them because it requires them to manage their time effectively and work with their classmates to complete activities in often overstimulating environments. Before class, they must review pre-learning materials. They then complete a closed-book quiz on the material – both individually and as a group in class. As a team, they must then work on exercises that apply knowledge to real-world scenarios. 

We spoke to neurodivergent bioscience and pharmacy students to find out what we could do to support them. Here are five tips based on our conversations.

Read it all HERE

Understanding Neurodiversity: A Guide to School Support Models

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n recent years, the way we talk about learning differences in Irish schools has moved toward a “neurodiversity-affirming” perspective. This means we no longer view conditions like Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, or Dyspraxia solely as “disorders” to be fixed. Instead, we recognize them as natural variations in the human brain—different ways of thinking, feeling, and processing the world.

For parents, navigating the support systems in a primary school can sometimes feel overwhelming. Understanding the roles of the Special Education Teacher (SET) and the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) is the first step in ensuring your child has the environment they need to flourish.

Read more about it HERE

How AI helps neurodivergent professionals showcase their strengths

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“Neurodivergent leaders who harness the full range of their natural and artificial assets are a beautiful illustration of the potential that the hybrid future offers for all of us,” says researcher and author Dr. Cornelia C. Walther, who focuses on “prosocial AI” — systems designed to amplify human potential and foster equity.

AI can be a bridge to greater inclusion and a connector that helps people participate more fully in society, says Walther, a senior fellow at the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and Harvard’s Learning and Innovation Lab. The tools can help people with neurodivergence curate a new inner dialogue, moving beyond the self-judgment that can come with feeling different, she says.

“AI can serve as a sort of translator, not of language, but of ability,” Walther says. “It can make sure there is a path that connects your ability and makes it useful in the way in which society is currently normed.”

Read the original article HERE

Tom Holland on ADHD, Dyslexia, and Tapping into ‘Play’ for Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  • Tom Holland has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
  • He uses ‘play’ to overcome creative intimidation and develop characters, including for Spider-Man.
  • Holland’s dyslexia primarily affected his spelling, and he credits his parents for their support.
  • His openness about neurodivergence makes him a role model for many fans.
  • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is his next MCU film, releasing July 31, 2026, where Peter Parker starts anew after ‘No Way Home’.

Read the full article HERE

Human model can safely mimic symptoms in neurotypical adults

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Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that developmental dyslexia comprises several subtypes with distinct symptom profiles, each associated with characteristic functional and structural abnormalities in the brain. However, how these regional brain-activity abnormalities lead to specific symptoms remains unclear. Moreover, while research using animal models such as mice or rats is effective in studying many brain disorders, it is not suitable for dyslexia because reading and writing are uniquely human skills.

To address this gap, the authors developed a human model of dyslexia, in which key dyslexia-related features are temporarily and safely induced in neurotypical human volunteers. 

Read more about it HERE