Researching Learning Challenges Overview

Researching Learning Challenges Competition Overview- TEAM COMPETITION

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This year’s competition focuses on a specific learning disability called Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of conditions that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

It's caused by damage to or abnormalities in the developing brain. The condition can significantly impact a child's

learning experience in various ways:

• Physical Challenges: Difficulties with motor skills, fatigue, and pain can hinder participation in classroom

activities.

• Cognitive and Communication Challenges: Attention difficulties, language impairments, and sensory processing

disorders can interfere with learning.

• Social and Emotional Challenges: Low self-esteem, social isolation, and emotional regulation issues can impact

learning and behavior.

• Citation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/ and cerebralpalsy.org.au

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10 out of every 1,000 children in

the United States have cerebral palsy.

 

The purpose of this competition is to work collaboratively to learn more about this specific learning challenge and to

produce a research-supported position paper and presentation to explain and advocate for positive practices in

schools to support the education of students with cerebral palsy. Imagine that the local school board has asked you:

“What specific steps should we take to support the education of students with cerebral palsy? How can inclusive

education be optimized for students with cerebral palsy? Also, why should we accept your recommendations?

Team members should research cerebral palsy and best practices to support the education of students with this

learning challenge. You are encouraged to embark on this research using traditional sources as well as primary

sources (ex. conducting interviews with individuals impacted by this disability or professionals who support

individuals with this disability, etc.). Then team members should discuss the research in order to determine

recommendations for their paper and presentation.

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Team members will collaborate on a research-supported position paper, which will be no shorter than four full pages

and no longer than six full pages, to offer their recommendations. The minimum number of student collaborators is

two, but there is no maximum. The position paper must include cited references (MLA, APA, or Chicago style are

acceptable) and a works cited sheet, which will not count toward the four-to-six-page length requirement. (Also, the

title page doesn’t count toward the length requirement. If you are unable to reach the minimum length required,

resume the research process — there is a lot of quality material out there on this topic.) The position paper will be

submitted with the competition application and will be scored by judges prior to the national conference.

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Competition Guidelines

There are two components to this competition:

• A position paper, submitted and scored by judges

prior to the national conference, and

• An interactive session (including a presentation)

with judges on-site at the national conference.

A. Team members will use the information

collected in the research phase to collaborate in

creating two products: a position paper and a

slide deck presentation.

B. The position paper will include a title page, a

works cited page (using MLA, APA, or Chicago

citation style), and four to six full pages of

research-supported recommendations with

appropriate context. The works cited and title

pages will not count towards the four-to-six-

page length. The position paper must be

submitted online.

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