Transcript Engineering the Classroom for Communication

Engineering the Classroom
for Communication
Susan Drysdale, M.Ed., M.A., CCC-SLP
2007-2008 School Year
CAIU MDS Class
Camp Hill HS
Susan Way, M. Special Ed., teacher
Dedicated to
the STAFF & STUDENTS
who made this possible
Engineering the Classroom
• Involves…
– delineating, prioritizing, & preparing classroom environments
to facilitate language development, communication &
literacy
– providing access to materials & technology including AAC
devices & AT equipment for all students
– using teaching techniques/strategies
• Aided language stimulation
• least-to-most prompting
• choice making
• Engineered classrooms…
– are especially beneficial for nonverbal students &/or students
with multiple disabilities; verbal students can also benefit
– require considerable planning to design & create
What Are Some of the Needs?
Beginning of the Year
Needs Assessment Tool
• Teacher completed
• Identified
– class needs
– staff needs
• 2 areas of focus selected
– provide students means to
improve comprehension of
structured learning/work
activities/tasks
– Teacher/staff learn/use no-tech
communication strategies &
materials (e.g., schedules,
picture communication
systems, boards/overlays)
Engineering the Classroom
for CURRENT needs…
What Would We Provide?
• Visually-based materials
– Communication boards
– Communication books
– Sentence starters flip chart
• Aided language stimulation technique
• Access to technology including
– AAC devices
– AT equipment
– Computer
• Organization & flexibility of physical space
Mid-Year Milestones
On-site Training
AAC to Gain Attention
AAC for Peer Interaction
Using Excel for Spelling
Communication Board
to Aid
Expressive Language
Number Board
to Aid Comprehension
Communication Book
to Aid
Expressive Language
End of the Year
Communication Board
to Aid
Expressive Language
AAC Device
to Aid Comprehension
Sentence Starters
Flip Chart to Aid
Comprehension
Peer Photos
to Aid Comprehension
AAC Device to
Communicate Needs
Using Intellikeys to
Access Excel for Spelling
AAC to Support
Group Activity
Communication Board
to Aid
Expressive Language
AAC Device to
Aid Comprehension
Needs Assessment Revisited
Teacher Completed in May, 2008
What Were Student Gains?
• Provided with…
– means to participate &
communicate
– access to materials &
technology equipment
• Improved language skills
– receptive language
– expressive language
• Increased peer/staff social
communication interactions
• Enhanced self-esteem
How Did the Staff Benefit?
• Learned how to…
– prepare/use visually-based materials
• communication boards & displays
• communication books
• sentence starters flip chart
• digital photos/graphics
– provide some group activities for all or most students to
participate & communicate
– use …
• AAC devices/AT equipment
• Aided language stimulation technique
• Improved organization, flexibility, & creative use of
limited physical space
What Do We Know?
• On-site training is essential & applied immediately
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software
AAC devices
AT equipment
computer access
design & preparation of materials
Consultation with staff must be ongoing
Preparation takes planning well in advance
Time & effort needed to engineer the classroom
Students…
– are more focused
– better able to participate & communicate
– have more opportunities to interact with staff & peers
Plans for 2008-2009
• Needs assessment completed early in September
– Identify 2-3 areas of focus
– Schedule regular on-site trainings based on staff needs
• Design & prepare materials far in advance of
planned activities/tasks
• Purchase/create electronic materials accessible to
all students
– Books/adapted books
– Games & puzzles
– Activities (e.g., art, music, reading, math)
• Organize & share materials
CAIU Professional Staff
Susan Drysdale, SLP
Jean Mulligan, Vision Specialist
Susan Way, MDS Teacher
Other Professional Staff
Alecia Staley, B.A., TSS
Keystone Human Services
Paraprofessional Staff
Kathy Brechbeil
Mary Buchanan
Marie Lewis
CAIU Students
John Ahern
Laura DeArment (transferred 01/25/08)
William Dudley
Glenn Fuller
Phillip Henry
Justin Lingenfelter
Harry Spilker
Quentin Tyler
and
Camp Hill HS students who provided
support to CAIU students
Now we can begin
Engineering the Classroom for
FUTURE needs…