Description:
Activity-based learning is an educational approach often used with students in special education programs.  The focus of activity-based learning is on using common activities, (such as cooking, music, or storybook reading) and using these activities as the basis for educational programming.  The tendency during these activities is to focus on activity-specific nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  This webinar will share simple strategies for shifting the focus from activity-specific nouns and verbs to use of a set of approximately 150 to 200 core vocabulary words.  The strategies will include pragmatic targeting, experiential metaphor-symbol learning, repetition with variety, and descriptive talking.

Speaker Biography:
Gail Van Tatenhove is a speech-language pathologist who has worked for 30+ years with children and adults who use AAC systems.   In her practical day to day activities, Gail provides direct therapy to individuals and families, consults with school districts on AAC implementation, and develops AAC therapy and classroom materials.  Gail is currently supporting students using robust AAC devices who are included in general education classes.  She also supports children and adults with complex communication needs, including significant cognitive disabilities who use a full range of AAC systems, including manual communication boards and devices.  Her contribution to the field of AAC includes development of a loaner bank of AAC devices; participation in ASHA projects on AAC implementation; editor of the ASHA newsletter for the AAC Special Interest Division, and board member for USSAAC.  She is the author of the Pixon Project Kit, an AAC curriculum for students with emerging language.

Learning Outcomes:
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Participants will be able to describe the process and value of experiential metaphor-symbol learning as a critical first step in the process of learning core vocabulary.

2. Participants will be able to develop an activity and repeat that activity with a variety of targeted vocabulary words, based on pragmatic function.

3. Participants will be able to define activity-specific nouns with descriptive core vocabulary words.

Additional Information: http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3628

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CEUs
This activity is offered for up to 0.2 CEUs (1.5 hours of instruction).

To register for CEUs, click on the link below to download the Evaluation and Learning Assessment Form, complete the form, and save the file using this file name model:

2011-ATIA-Webinar-AT11-WEB09-Implementing.rtf.

Then send the file as an email attachment to ceus@aacinstitute.org. If any difficulty is encountered in using this form, write to ceus@aacinstitute.org to request an alternative file format. In the body of the email, include:

Name
Assistive Technology Role (SLP, OT, family, etc.)
State (if USA), Province (if Canada), or other country

Download Evaluation and Learning Assessment Form now.

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Certificates are sent as .pdf email attachments.