Assume Abilities: Using 3D Learning to Empower Neurodivergent Students

There isn’t always time to provide the kind of repetition that students with disabilities need in order to learn. Former paralegal turned high school teacher Karla Montalvo and Director of Technology at AIM Academy, Aaron Brill have been leveraging zSpace devices in their classrooms to provide just that to students—time to repeat, space to fail, and opportunities to learn. A zSpace is a laptop that allows students to interact with 3D educational content without the need for 3D glasses. Within the zSpace virtual environment, students can practice life skills like making grocery lists, riding the bus, and paying with credit cards. They then transfer these skills to real life scenarios on community outings outside the classroom. The guiding principle for these educators has been to assume ability. In this conversation, Karla and Aaron will lay out the frameworks they used to implement zSpace into their classes and the profound effects it has had on their students.