2001 Conference Proceedings
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THE USE OF SIMPLE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN A PROFOUNDLY
HANDICAPPED CLASSROOM TO PROMOTE PARENT AWARENESS
Linda Ynostroza
Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office
661-397-9124
Denise Jorgensen
Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office
661-396-9201
DESCRIPTION
In order to increase parent awareness of student activities at
this MOVE Model Site and abilities in a profound special
education classroom, a program was established whereby digital
pictures and movies were emailed to parents via the Internet
within the next day of an activity. For those parents without
Internet access, pictures were printed out and sent home with the
student. Pictures were also printed and placed into a classroom
scrapbook. In addition, a simple classroom newsletter was created
bimonthly using a word processing program and digital pictures.
STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM
We were able to obtain a digital camera that not only took
digital pictures but also up to 60 seconds of digital movies. The
camera itself was simple enough to use that teachers and aides
alike could easily access its capabilities. Most activities and
newly acquired skills can be shown well within this 6o second
window. We were able to use these pictures/movies in .a variety
of ways. Not only could the pictures be sent to parents via email
or home with the student but a bimonthly newsletter was
established using the digital pictures and a simple word
processing program. The newsletter took approximately two hours
to create, type, and edit. Over a period of a few months,
students were filmed playing in a swimming pool for the first
time, walking up bus steps with minimal assistance, using vocal
output devices and switch activated devices for choice making,
and moving assisted weight bearing apparatus a short distance.
We found that parents responded enthusiastically to the
pictorial presentation of their student's progress. Due to work
or family situations, parents were unable to come to the
classroom on a regular basis. Any progress is usually slow and
minimal and is frequently not generalized to the home with this
type of special education population. Often, because of the
profound involvement of the children, their ability to show a new
skill is unpredictable. Many parents were excited by the fact
they did not have to take a day off of work with the "hope" that
the child would show them their newly acquired skills. In
addition, it was exciting for the parents to be able to share
their child's success in a timely manner. Some of the activities,
such as water play in a swimming pool, was experienced for the
first time by students and parents alike via the Internet.
The publication of the newsletter also served to promote parent
awareness. The two pages included information about themes
activities, field trips, and classroom visitors. One or two
students' progress were highlighted each month as well as
upcoming site activities.
STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION
This program will be presented by Linda Ynostroza and Denise
Jorgensen, special education teachers. It will include digital
pictures and movies of students during various classroom
activities performing a variety of tasks and experiencing various
educational situations. Additionally, parent comments will be
included in reference to how the program has affected their
perceptions of their students.
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