Tourette+Syndrome;+How+Blogs+and+Podcasts+Can+Help+with+Class+Participation

//Brandon Quick//
 * Tourette Syndrome: How Blogs and Podcasts Can Help with Class Participation**

Tourettes Syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological disorder with onset prior to age 18, characterized by multiple physical and at least one vocal tic. These tics happen nearly every day and are typically brought on by stressful situations.

The classroom can be a trigger for stress for any student. Many students, regardless of the presence of neurological conditions, are apprehensive about speaking up in class. Some students feel that they will look foolish if they say something that may be incorrect.

We will look at, Jimmy, a student in a 12th grade psychology course. Jimmy has TS with both physical and vocal tics. He does not exhibit many tics at home and his parents are thinking of taking him off his medication. At school, however, the teachers notice that when a direct question is asked, he begins to tic. This also occurs when the teacher is anywhere near Jimmy’s desk.

It is apparent that Jimmy’s participation in class is impeded by his neurological condition. So the real question is, how can we help Jimmy succeed in class and participate to his full ability?

Any student who suffers from TS will have great difficulty participating in class. Although it may be easier for these students to use Web 2.0 technologies such as blogging and podcasting to express themselves, there are still many barriers they will face. The same anxiety will most likely be brought on by the idea of recording their own voice for a podcast or putting their thoughts out on the Internet in a blog, but the degree of this anxiety will be greatly reduced as the students can take their time to formulate their ideas.

Blogging and podcasting are two of the most effective ways to get these students to actively participate in class. By allowing them to blog or podcast their ideas, they do not have the social pressure of speaking in front of their fellow students, but at the same time they can engage in meaningful discussions with one another.

The blog or podcast allows these students to gather their ideas, proofread, and then post. This is something that works for a number of anxiety-related conditions found in the classroom. Students who suffer from TS can now relax and truly process instructor and classmate comments without the fear of being singled out. When discussions move to the digital realm, the user also feels a sense of anonymity and is likely to be more open and thoughtful in their responses.