The IRIS Center for

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The IRIS Center for Faculty Enhancement
Peabody College at Vanderbilt University Claremont
Graduate University
Project H325F010003
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The IRIS Center Free Online Course Enhancement
Materials About Response to Intervention and the
Identification of Students With Learning
Disabilities
Deb Smith, Claremont Graduate University Naomi
Tyler, Vanderbilt University Kathy Strunk,
Tennessee State Dept. of Education
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The Reading Dilemma
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But, first What is IRIS? and What does it do?
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IRIS (IDEA and Research For Inclusive Settings)
National Center for Faculty Enhancement
1.Translates research into practice 2. Provides
modules and materials for pre-service training
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Overarching IRIS purpose
To assist university faculty to better prepare
future non-special education professionals to
meet the needs of students with disabilities in
inclusive settings.
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Why would OSEP invest in a national center?
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Reasons for IRIS

• Increased inclusion of students with
  disabilities
• 2-3 students in EVERY general education classroom
  will have disabilities
• Inner city/urban classrooms where up to half of
  the class is struggling
• Despite years of mainstreaming and inclusion,
  teachers and administrators still report
  discomfort and lack of knowledge when working
  with students with disabilities

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The IRIS Strategies
Modules not courses Rich sets of enhancements
and resources
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The IRIS Strategies
Modules not courses Rich sets of enhancements
and resources Application of learning sciences
Dissemination without restrictions through
technology
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The Array of IRIS Materials Includes
Modules Case studies Other resources
Information Briefs Student Activities Web
Resource Directories On-Line Dictionary
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IRIS STAR Legacy Modules
Are grounded in learning sciences (How People
Learn Theories)
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(No Transcript)
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IRIS STAR Legacy Modules
Are grounded in learning sciences (How People
Learn Theories) Present validated content
(Evidence-based Practices)
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The Tennessee Dilemma

• New RTI options of IDEA 2004
• Strong desire and support to implement RTI across
  TN
• No professional development training materials

TN
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TN SIG and OSEP asked IRIS to develop modules on
RTI

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RTI Content Experts
Sharon Vaughn Thea Woodruff University of
Texas-Austin
Lynn Fuchs Doug Fuchs Vanderbilt University
Larry Wexler OSEP
Alfredo Artiles University of Arizona
Leonard Baca University of Colorado-Boulder
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Basic RTI Module Sequence

Recommended RTI Module Sequence
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The Story Line and Characters

Hypothetical School Rosa Parks Elementary School
S-Team Members Mr. Johnson school
psychologist Mrs. Hernandez 1st grade teacher
Ms. Johnson reading specialist (Tier 2 ) Ms.
Jacobs SE teacher
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Our Struggling Readers

LaToya and Ryan receive Tier 2 services. They
show some progress after 12 weeks, but they
continue with Tier 2 instruction.
Megan is monitored in Tier 1 and shows
improvement.
DeJuan receives Tier 2 services, after 12 weeks
he shows improvement and Tier 2 services
are discontinued.
And, then theres Jack!
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Practice with the RTI Overview Module 15 minutes

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Practice with the RTI Assessment Module 15
minutes
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Overview of the RTI Reading Instruction Module
10 minutes
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IRIS Research and Evaluation
Field-test data Study 1 Module use,
self-reports Study 2 Module use, learner
outcomes
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Study 1 Student Self-Reports

• For 17 different modules
• From 898 students in courses taught by 16 faculty
  at 5 institutions
• 47 are majoring in Elementary Education and 31
  in Middle and Secondary Education
• 61 are White, 29 are Hispanic, 8 are Asian,
  and 1 are Black

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Study 2 Learner Outcomes
plt.0001 with these variables accounted for
Textbook content, lectures, time and day of class
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The IRIS Center Web Site User or Visitor (Not
Hit) Data
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Per academic term. Exclusive of all Vanderbilt
use, research participants, Allyn Bacon
MyLabSchool
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IRIS Center for Faculty Enhancement Peabody
College Vanderbilt University Peabody Box
160 Nashville, TN 37203 Claremont Graduate
University (CGU) 925 No. Dartmouth Claremont, CA
91711 [phone] Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]-IRIS (4747) Toll
Free http//iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/