Intended for use in college-level secondary-education methods courses, the module contains text, an annotated bibliography, and overhead masters. The first section explains the federal definition of learning disabilities (LD), noting the difficulty of measuring many of the characteristics identified in the definition and the resulting increasing use of formulas to determine a discrepancy between ability and achievement. The next section lists "traditional" characteristics of learning disabilities and dyslexia, citing a variety of authors. In the third section, cognitive characteristics of learning disabled students particularly important at the secondary school level are identified and discussed, with emphasis on LD students' poor learning and memory strategies. Also noted are specific skill deficits in reading, handwriting, spelling, written production, mathematics, and social behavior and characteristics. Controversies are identified noting that there is considerable overlap between low achieving students labeled LD and low-achieving student not so labeled. Also provided are 23 references, a 26-item bibliography with abstracts, and 13 overhead masters. (DB)