Creating A Communication Conducive Classroom
My notes from the February 2003 “CAMA” conference
1. Allow success. Make sure each student has the appropriate, accessible assistive technology device, matched to his or her strengths and abilities.
2. Make communication convenient. The classroom should be filled with “easy to access” communication opportunities.
3. Encourage conversation. The saying is “Chatting is the last frontier”—when it comes to assistive technology. Don’t just have the students label items and answer questions. Find ways to help them “chat”!
4. Plan ahead! Anticipate the week’s lessons, and what communication symbols, device programming, etc. will be needed so students are truly communicating and not just sitting through hour after hour of instruction.
5. Teach communication ALL day! Don’t schedule “one period” for the teaching of communication. People don’t talk just during “one period” of the day!
6. Find teachable moments and use them. When something spontaneous comes up—use that opportunity to have students communicate further.
7. Use meaningful, age-appropriate instruction. Students will be more motivated to communicate if they have frequent, interesting opportunities to communicate.
8. Aim for 200 plus “switch hits” per day. That can include sequenced scripts on “leveled” devices such as the Ablenet “step by step”.
