Understanding Dyslexia OpenCourseWare: The Open University's Free Undergraduate Psychology Course

Published Feb 10, 2009

RSS Feed

The 'Understanding Dyslexia' OpenCourseWare from The Open University uses the condition of dyslexia to explore how society's standard of 'normal' affects the way we view psychological functions and to illustrate how many psychological perspectives must be taken into considerations when diagnosing, treating and managing a condition such as dyslexia. This intermediate-level course is appropriate for undergraduate Psychology students or for anyone interested in the causes, treatments and challenges of dyslexia.

Understanding Dyslexia: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

Understanding Dyslexia: Course Description

Society's ideas of 'normal' and 'abnormal' don't always apply in the field of psychology. The Open University's course 'Understanding Dyslexia' uses the condition of dyslexia as a case study to show how societal views of 'normal' can influence the way we think about psychological functions and processes. By examining the same case, students explore how research from biological, cognitive and neuropsychological perspectives must all be considered in order to form a complete picture of a condition like dyslexia. Specifically, the course focuses on the physiology and psychology of the dyslexic brain. However, classification and identification are only part of the challenge for patients who suffer from dyslexia. This course also discusses various treatments and management techniques for dyslexia, as well as possible causes of the disorder. 'Understanding Dyslexia' is an intermediate-level course and requires approximately 20 hours to complete.

Course materials include online notes complete with figures and illustrations, activities, a list of further readings and a discussion forum. To download these free course materials or to learn more, visit the psychology of dyslexia course page.

Featured School Choices: