The purpose of this miniproject was to investigate the wider use of DyscalculiUM, which is a first-line screening tool for dyscalculia in HE and to further develop and evaluate this electronic tool. Principally, the current project allowed further testing of the tool to be carried out in several FE and HEIs.
In 2003 it became apparent that there was an urgent need for a suitable screening test for dyscalculia in HE. In the work conducted prior to this miniproject, DyscalculiUM was developed and piloted in both electronic and paper formats. These initial trials, conducted at Loughborough University, showed little difference between the two versions. Furthermore these trials yielded very promising results in the use of the test as an effective screening tool for dyscalculia. The development and early trials in phases one and two of the project are reported by Beacham, N. and Trott, C. (2005). Following this, some modifications were made to the test and the current miniproject has allowed the team to continue this development.
On evaluation, the miniproject demonstrated that the screener:
1. Provides an effective screening tool for dyscalculia in HE;
2. Can effectively discriminate dyscalculia from dyslexia;
3. Is easily manageable;
4. Can effectively discriminate dyscalculia from other specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) such as Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD;
5. Is easily manageable;
6. Is effective in both HE and FE;
7. Can be accommodated easily into various screening processes;
8. Has a good correlation with other published data, although realising that this data is competency based and not for screening purposes; and,
9. Can be used to screen large groups of students as well as used on an individual basis
During this miniproject several HE and FE institutions were actively involved in trials. Thus, in the course of the current project, the team was able to evaluate the screener as an integral part of various screening procedures and develop a framework for the implementation of the screening tool within other HE and FE institutions. The screener has been shown as an effective tool that can be successfully embedded into a variety of screening procedures at FE and HE and used to successfully highlight students at risk of dyscalculia. It can further discriminate dyscalculia from other SpLDs, such as dyslexia or Asperger’s Syndrome. However, an issue of students for whom English is not their first language has still to be resolved.
The original aims of the project have not only been met, but also extended so that further valuable information has been collected and a greater evaluation of the screener has been possible.
Additionally, the profile of dyscalculia as a learning disability has been raised and there is a growing awareness of its prevalence and identification in the wider community.