A Review of IRIS: An Online Resource Center for Educators

A partnership between Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University and California’s Claremont Graduate University produced an extensive collection of resources for educators and students alike. The authors review The IRIS Center Web site and discuss its variety of free resources for general and special educators working with students of all ability levels, with a focus on special education students ranging in age from birth to 21. They recommend the site as providing a wealth of information to enhance the education experience for teachers and students alike.Planning classroom programs for preservice as well as experienced teachers can be a daunting task. Finding real-world examples is time consuming. Researching materials, reviewing materials, and selecting the best, evidence-based materials to present can become overwhelming. Now that the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) is no longer in service, where do educators begin their search? The IRIS Center (whose acronym does not stand for anything specifically), funded by the United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), offers educators from all levels of academia the opportunity to find materials pertinent to their student populations, free of charge.HistoryEstablished at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College (Nashville, TN) in 2001, The IRIS Center is a national initiative that is the result of a research proposal grant offered and funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Leaders at Vanderbilt University collaborated with those at Claremont Graduate University (Claremont, CA) to develop research-based instructional practices for all educators and students, with a focus on special needs students, age birth to 21. The universities’ partnership resulted in a clear distinction of roles, with Vanderbilt taking charge of The IRIS Center Web site and Claremont assuming responsibility for providing professional development offerings for educators. This joint endeavor produced a dynamic opportunity not otherwise accessible to teachers.ResourcesThe resources and materials constructed by The IRIS Center are designed primarily with college and university faculty, professional developers, and practicing providers in mind. The material presented on The IRIS Center site is computer-based and therefore able to reach an international audience. The resources include evidence-based practices and programs that span all academic content areas.The IRIS Center offers an abundance of resources that includes the site’s signature product, the STAR Legacy Modules. Based on the How People Learn (HPL) theory developed by Dr. John Bransford (Bransford, Brown, OC Cocking, 1999), the STAR Legacy Modules provide learners with the opportunity to expand knowledge through a challenge-based approach. Each module is comprised of five components: (a) Challenge, presenting case-based scenarios; (b) Initial Thoughts, garnering students’ prior knowledge of the information presented in the Challenge; (c) Perspectives and Resources, noting relevant information that students may access to enhance learning; (d) Wrap-Up, providing a summation in which students reflect on learning; and (e) Assessment, giving students the opportunity to apply new knowledge.The IRIS Resource Locator provides easily accessible information. Labeled by topic, resource type, or module element, the Evidence-Based Practice Summaries enable the teachers to delve into the most current research on topics ranging from behavior and classroom management to reading, literacy, and language arts. The IRIS Resource Locator also offers an abundance of materials, including films and books that portray individuals with disabilities. Also included is a glossary of terms widely used in general and special education, a Web resource directory that provides educators with information regarding federal projects, and additional resources educators may find useful. …