Information Inquiry: Up-Close

Rebecca L. Buck

EDG 617Spring 2009

Prof. B. LaBeau

Questioning: What do I want to know?

What kinds of things interest me? What topic do I have a lot of questions

about? What could I learn that would help me at

home and at school? What topic do I know about, that I would like

to know more? Topic Chosen: Autism

AASL Standards: L1-1:1,2 and L2-1:1

Guiding Questions: Autism(ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder)

What are some of the possible causes of ASD as shown by research?

What are the signs and symptoms of ASD? What types of treatment are available for people

with ASD? What do statistics show about who (gender, ethnic

back ground, socio-economic, etc), where (geographically and socio-economically), have ASD?

What are “hopes” for the future with the cure of ASD?

AASL Standard: L1-1:3

Exploration of Information and Resources

Possible Resources: Books

Autism spectrum disorders : the complete guide to understanding autism, Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, and other ASDs by Shantal Sickle-Kira.

Does my child have autism? a parent's guide to early detection and intervention in autism spectrum disorders by Wendy Stone.

Web-sites http://www.nimh.nih.gov National Institute of Mental Health http://www.necc.org The New England Center for Children http://www.autism-society.org Autism Society of America http://www.autismspeaks.org Autism Research and Support

Professionals in our District Special Education Teachers Parents with children diagnosed with ASD

AASL Standards: L1-1:4, 5

Assimilation: Selecting, Evaluating and Analyzing Information

Key WordsKey Words: Autism, ASD, Developmental Disorders, Mental

Health, Autism Spectrum, Pervasive Devel. Disorder Searching:

websites, medical journals, books, and articles Talking to professionals in our district.

Selecting the most helpful resources. Collecting and Evaluating information to

determine bias, credibility of source, and relevancy. Analyzing data and ideas from the sources

selected. AASL Standards L1-2: 1,2,3,4

Inference: Organize, Integrate, Apply and Communicate information

I created a concept map using Inspiration software to organize my information and answer the guiding questions. (See my full-sized concept-map in journal entry #5)

Creation of a concept map was a great way to organize the information I had found, communicate results to others in the future, and to discover any gaps in my research.

AASL Standards L1-3:1,2,3,4

What does research show?A short summary of my findings:

What are some of the possible causes of ASD as shown by research? Scientists are still unsure of the causes of ASD. One probable theory that has been

given significant attention, is the theory of a genetic link. Studies show that families who have a history of ASD are much more likely to have children with ASD.

What are the signs and symptoms of ASD? Impaired: social, verbal, and/or behavioral interactions Restrictive or repetitive behaviors Other medical problems including: mental retardation, seizures, etc.

What types of treatment are available for people with ASD? Early intervention in highly structured environments Dietary intervention and/or medications Behavior modification plans

What do statistics show about who (gender, ethnic back ground, socio-economic, etc), where (geographically and socio-economically), have ASD?

ASD has no boundaries when comparing ethnicity, socio-economic status, etc. 1 in 150 babies will be born with ASD

4 times more common in males than in females 10-17% growth annually: Fastest growing developmental disability in the world.

What are “hopes” for the future with the cure of ASD? Many research studies are being done, with hope for a brighter future. Early intervention has been shown to increase quality of life for persons with ASD

More details and information are included in my concept map.

Reflection: Review the past and look to the future.

Analysis and reflection of the ideas gathered. Assessment of the process: rubric

(See my rubric in journal entry #8) Where do I go from here? What else do I want to know?

How can I better help my current and future students understand the needs of classmates who are dealing ASD?

What techniques could I use in my classroom to assist students with ASD?

Final Thoughts: I will continue to look at new research and findings of

studies as scientists discover more causes and treatments for ASD.

AASL Standards: L2-3:1, 2