2016 Conference on Learning Differences

“When learning differences are not detected early and effectively, they can quickly become learning issues”

Educational Prevention through Universal Screening

Barcelona CosmoCaixa

July 2, 2016

Project Difference’s 3rd Annual International Conference was dedicated to prevention through universal screening of students in their schools and personalized interventions that can be made thanks to new evidence-based systems of evaluation, diagnosis and followup in Catalunya and other countries.

Activity accredited by - Departament d'Ensenyament Generalitat de Catalunya

Programa 2016

MORNING AGENDA

9:00 – 9:25
CONFERENCE OPENING
Welcome from Sam Lardner, Director of Project Difference.
Opening of conference from Joaquin Serra, Founder of Project Difference, Carme Ortoll from Departament d’Ensenyament of Generalitat de Catalunya and Rafael Homet, Representative of Education of Diputación de Barcelona.

  • 9:30 – 10:15    
    PACBAL a new way of evaluation
    Dr. Josep Font: Director of Escola Estel de Vic, creator of PACBAL project, Manager of PACBAL for Departament d’Ensenyament of Generalitat de Catalunya.
  • 10:20 – 11:05
    Training the brain to look after the heart
    Montserrat García: Psycologist and Founder of Avesedari Association for the study and treatment of learning differences and creator of Glifing Method for reading training.
  • 11:10 – 11:45
    COFFEE BREAK
  • 11:45 – 12:30
    The best prevention for Learning Differences is early detection
    Dr. Miguel Casas: Professor of Psychiatry of Universidad Autónoma of Barcelona and Head of Psychiatry Service in Hospital Vall d’Hebrón.
  • 12:40 – 14:00
    Debate: Experiences in prevention, detection and intervention
    Experts: Dr. Josep Font, Dr. Miguel Casas, Montserrat García.
    Moderator: Dr. Eric Tridas, International Dyslexia Association and Professor of Clinic Associated in University of South Florida Medical Center (EEUU).
  • 14:00 – 15:30
    LUNCH AT COSMOCAIXA

AFTERNOON AGENDA

Itinerary 1: Confronting changes in the system

  • 15:30 – 16:15
    Response to intervention: screening and control of the learning progress
    Dr. Juan Jiménez: Professor of Education and Developmental Psychology. University La Laguna, Islas Canarias.
  • 16:30 – 17:15
    Dreams are free: The story of 36 schools and an exemplary educator’s dream
    Dr. Eric Tridas: International Dyslexia Association and Professor of Clinic Associated in University of South Florida Medical Center (EEUU).
  • 17:30 – 18:15
    The story of “Esperanza” and its impact in the state of Texas
    Dra. Elsa Cárdenas Hagan: University of Houston, TX EEUU.

Itinerary 2: Innovative methodologies and strategies

  • 15:30 – 16:15
    Strategies for differences in the classroom
    Dr. Mauro Bolmida: Institute of Advanced Psychology.
  • 16:30 – 17:15
    Multilingual education in early ages
    Dr. Henri Castleberry: NClic Vitoria Gasteiz.
  • 17:30 – 18:15
    Picto-writing, a new learning method
    Roser Ballesteros: Initiative VoxPrima.