The passion project
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The Passion Project
Transcript of The passion project
The Passion Project
What’s Your
“Enthusiasm?”
What Do We Know About the
Learner with Autism?
According the DSM-IV, individuals
with autism will have one or more of
the following:
Delayed Language
Social Deficits
Repetitive Behaviours /
Obsessions (Enthusiasms or
Passions)
How Do We Fit The Individual
With Autism In?Enter Kieran Egan
And the theory of Learning-in-Depth
Quick Review of
Learning-in-
Depth (LiD)Students choose or are assigned topics from a list of approved topics (follow from grade 1-12)
Students go through a topic ceremony
Portfolios are kept with the accumulation of knowledge (this knowledge could be in written, visual, artistic, vocal, digital or other forms)
Quick Review of
Learning-in-
Depth (LiD)
Portfolio supervision
happens (likely once per
month is intermediate grades)
Portfolio Parade – at
selected times during the year
to share knowledge with
peers, parents and the wider
community
Students become experts in
their area of study
The Passion Project:
Our Adapted Version of
Learning-in-Depth (LiD)
Focus Student
Meet Jonny
Jonny’s Profile
Jonny has Asperger’s
Jonny is in Grade 6
Jonny is gifted (especially in Language Arts)
His enthusiasm/passion is Harry Potter
How It Looks:
The Grade 6 Passion Project
PASSION PROJECT
Social Skills
Communication
Skills
Academic Skills
Time of
Year
Activities Project
Milestones
September Focus Question Developed
in Small Groups / Social
Skills Taught
Focus Groups
Made by Teacher
October to
February
Exploration of Topic /
Mentors Intro’d / Research
Skills Taught
Research /
Experience
Compiled
March to
May
Passion Project Compiled /
Communication Skills TaughtProject
Developed
June Passion Project Parade Project Shared
With School
How It Looks:
The Grade 6 Passion Project
Jonny’s Harry Potter Study
Reading in depth of
text
History of Magic
Cultures that believe/practic
e magic
Characteristics of trees/wood
(wand and broomstick)
Evolution of Flight
Mechanics of Flight
Evolution of Harry’s character
Friendship
Family dynamics (adoption regulations)
How It Connects to
the Learning Outcomes:
The Grade 6 Passion Project
Science: manipulate and control a
number of variables in an experiment,
demonstrate how various forces can
affect the movement of objects, measure
weather in terms of temperature,
precipitation, cloud cover, wind speed
and direction
NEED ANY MORE
CONVINCING?
How it Differs From LiD:
The Grade 6 Passion Project The students can change focus every year
(do not have to follow same topic through to high school)
It is built into the curriculum
More teacher-directed
More skills-based, including direct instruction, but allows for student ownership of learning
Use of mentors and peers to facilitate learning
How It Works For Jonny:
The Grade 6 Passion Project
Direct Social Skills Instruction
CanChoose Enthusiasm/Passion (matching his interests)
Direct Communication / Language Skill Instruction
Jonny’s Final Project
The Portfolio Parade
CitationsBC Ministry of Education. (2006). English Language Arts Grade 6: Integrated Resource Package. Victoria,
British Columbia: Ministry of Education, Province of Education.
BC Ministry of Education. (2007). Mathematics Grade 6: Integrated Resource Package. Victoria, British Columbia: Ministry of Education, Province of Education.
BC Ministry of Education. (2005). Science Grade 6: Integrated Resource Package. Victoria, British Columbia: Ministry of Education, Province of Education.
BC Ministry of Education. (2006). Social Student Grade 6: Integrated Resource Package. Victoria, British Columbia: Ministry of Education, Province of Education.
BC Ministry of Education. (2006). Health and Career Education Grade 6: Integrated Resource Package. Victoria, British Columbia: Ministry of Education, Province of Education.
Building the Portfolio. Retrieved from http//www.ierg.net/LID/2009/10/27/building-the-portfolio/ on November 3, 2010.
Egan, K., & Madej, K. (2009). Learning in depth: Students as experts. Education Canada, 49, 18-23.
LiD: learning in depth. Retrieved from http://www.ierg.net/ on November 3, 2010.
Neihart, Maureen. (2000). Gifted children with Asperger’s Syndrome. Gifted Child Quarterly, 2000, 44 (4), 222-230.
