Types of IRIS Resources

The signature products of the IRIS Center, STAR Legacy Modules offer in-depth looks at topics like high-quality IEPs, student behavior and classroom management, assistive technology, Universal Design for Learning, and many others of importance to educators in today’s classrooms. Our modules offer their content in a variety of formats: text, video demonstrations, audio interviews with experts and practicing educators, and interactive activities. Based on the adult learning theory developed by Dr. John Bransford and his colleagues, IRIS Modules make information on evidence-based practices more accessible and easier to learn than is otherwise possible for many busy educators. Click here to learn more about adult learning theory. Each interactive module is made up of five components:

• Challenge: A realistic scenario relevant to education professionals
• Initial Thoughts: Questions that allow students to explore and consider what they currently know about the scenario presented in the Challenge
• Perspectives & Resources: Nuggets of information (e.g., text, movies, audio interviews, activities) that allow students to actively engage in learning the module’s main content
• Wrap Up: A summary of the information presented in the previous components
• Assessment: An evaluation tool that offers students the opportunity to apply what they know and to evaluate what topics they need to study further

To begin, click on the Challenge at the top of the STAR Legacy cycle. Movement throughout the sections of the module can be managed by making use of the navigation bar at the right side of the page or by following the links at the top or bottom of each page. The IRIS Center recommends that visitors to the website work through the pages of each module in the order presented in the STAR Legacy cycle, starting with the Challenge and moving to Initial Thoughts, Perspectives & Resources, Wrap Up, and Assessment. The center feels that visitors who skip one or more of these sections may not receive the full informational benefit of the cycle. Please note that many module sections contain multiple pages, hyperlinks, short movies, and sound files.

Learn more about how to navigate our modules by watching this short instructional video.

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.

Our multi-part IRIS Case Studies ask users to analyze and respond to a number of problem-based classroom issues and challenges—for example classroom norms and expectations, algebra instruction, or classroom arrangement—through increasing levels of complexity and detail. Case Study Units have several elements:

• STAR Sheets—Each strategy is accompanied by a STrategy And Resource (STAR) Sheet. These contain a description of the strategy, relevant research findings, an explanation of how the strategy is implemented, and references. It is through STAR Sheets that students locate the information they need to answer the assignment questions.
• Case Studies—Each case study presents a problem-based classroom issue or challenge. Designed to accommodate a wide range of student skills, case studies are divided into three progressive levels:
  • Level A—Gathering information
    Level B—Analyzing information
    Level C—Synthesizing information
  • Case studies contain the following components:
  • Background—This contains information about the students.
  • Scenario—A Scenario is a description of a hypothetical situation that requires a teacher’s response. In Levels A and B, goals for the target child are provided. At Level C, however, no goals are provided, and identifying goals becomes part of the assignment. In addition, at Level C, areas of strength for the target child are provided to assist in the development of goals.
  • Possible Strategies—For Levels A and B, multiple strategies, which are described in the STAR Sheets, are suggested as responses to each scenario.
  • Assignment—An assignment accompanies each case study and is appropriate for the case study level. At Level A, assignments allow students to show that they understand the possible strategies for that case. At Level B, students additionally are asked to analyze the information presented in the STAR Sheets. At the most complex level, Level C, students are also required to compare and defend their application of specific strategies.

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.

Looking for handy, focused resources for use as independent assignments or to promote classroom discussion? IRIS Course/PD Activities cover a diverse range of topics, including behavior management, language disorders, disability related language in federal law, and many others.

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.

Practical and informative, Fundamental Skill Sheets offer educators quick tutorials about discrete skills and practices indispensable to their role as effective classroom teachers. Fundamental Skill Sheets cover everything from specific praise to proximity control, providing key information in sections like What It Is, What the Research & Resources Say, Steps for Implementation, Tips for Implementation, Implementation Examples (including demonstration videos of both correct and incorrect implementation), Things To Keep in Mind, and References & Resources for further study.

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.

The IRIS Information Brief collection contains: 1) briefs written by IRIS on key topics, designated with the IRIS logo, and 2) online resources developed by other programs and centers, collected and curated by IRIS as supplemental materials. Information briefs provide summaries of topics such as the least restrictive environment (LRE) for students with disabilities, progress monitoring, Universal Design for Learning, and more.

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.

These in-depth discussions with nationally recognized experts or instructors in the field cover a wide variety of topics, including common errors in the IEP process, testing accommodations for students with disabilities, and much more.

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.

These annotations of and links to videos about individuals with disabilities, their families, advocates, teachers, and service providers includes videos about the history of disabilities, as well as depictions of the application of evidence-based practices in educational settings. (Note that some of the videos in this collection might make use of terminology that is no longer current. The inclusion of a video does not necessarily reflect endorsement by the IRIS Center.)

To access these resources, visit the IRIS Resource Locator.