From assessment to personalization: a clinical-educational path to promote awareness and autonomy in study

Subject

The project stems from the need to improve support for students with learning difficulties, particularly those with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), recognized by Italian and San Marino regulations. Despite legislative progress, many students receive late diagnoses or fail to consistently access personalized interventions, with potential repercussions on their academic progress, academic independence, and psychological well-being. Research highlights how learning difficulties can impact self-esteem, self-efficacy, and academic continuity, especially during the transition to secondary school and university. The project proposes an integrated model that combines neuropsychological assessment with a practical observation-intervention program called "Study Method Identikit." The goal is to help students better understand their cognitive functioning, strengths, and difficulties, promoting personalized study strategies and greater independence. The program includes individual meetings led by expert professionals, during which students engage in real-world school activities; this allows for concrete observation of learning styles and the testing of effective compensatory tools and strategies. An innovative element of the project is the integration of high-tech tools to support the operators' work: the system helps organize and analyze the information collected, contributing to the construction of a more accurate student profile and improving the quality of clinical-educational observation.

The action research will involve high school and university students, with and without a prior diagnosis, with the aim of scientifically verifying the effectiveness of this multidisciplinary approach. Beyond its scientific dimension, the project aims to offer a concrete service to the local community, supporting the education and healthcare systems and promoting replicable practices for personalizing teaching and developing individualized educational plans. Ultimately, the results could contribute to the development of more inclusive, person-centered intervention models geared toward student success and well-being.

Status of works

The project's operationalization activities began in September 2025, with particular attention to developing intervention protocols and defining the procedures necessary to ensure privacy protection and data security. The action-research project is aimed at approximately 25 secondary school students (from first to fifth grade) and 25 university students with learning disabilities. Participants will be recruited through the University of the Republic of San Marino and other participating institutions, including the university spin-off and private centers involved in the research.