On Thursday, my first period class had a special guest visit us via Sypke, the online telephone-video service. Ira David Socol, currently a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University, is the author of two works of fiction, A Certain Place of Dreams and The Drool Room. He told the students about growing up moving back and forth between New York City and Northern Ireland as a child. Dysgraphic, dyslexic and ADHD, he found school to be difficult, frustrating and inflexible, particularly in the United Stated in the early days of special education. But he never gave up. He figured out ways to work around his disabilities and work with his strengths. As new technologies emerged, he found tools that would allow him access the written word and to communicate in writing with others. His current research is on designing educational experiences that work for all students and finding tools that benefit all learners.

Mr. Socol made a point of telling the students he would NOT tell them to try harder. Rather, he encouraged them to explore their interests, find ways of learning that work for them and to find tools and technologies that will allow them to show their brilliance. The class was inspired by Mr. Socol’s honest, matter-of-fact answers to their questions and his openness about his disabilities. They have already asked to have him back later in the year.

Thank you, Mr. Socol!

Click here to see pictures of Mr. Socol “skyping” in to the class. (You’ll have to scroll down to see the pictures.)