10 Classroom Implementation

Ideas for AAC Users:

1. Set General Classroom Communication Objectives for SOCIAL INTERACTION: greetings,
commenting, social control (more, all done, you do it, let me, help), commenting (I think..).
2. Prioritize the communication objectives and only address one objective at a time until it has
become a natural part of the classroom procedures.
3. Give the primary team partners the FREE SOFTWARE that matches the childs device and load
the childs user on it. Teach partners the language structure of the device (how to find
vocabulary). Run the software on your smart boards to provide visual language for all students.
Available from PRC, Dynavox, Tobii, Saltillo and others by a free download.
4. Make CHEAT SHEET screen shots of students primary communication pages to meet the
Classroom Communication Objectives including arrows to point out vocabulary and simple
scripts for the use of the vocabulary. Hint: Use your free device software and clip images!
5. Use what youve got! Teach the student to use the RESEARCH BASED VOCABULARY that is
already in the device. Do NOT create multitudes of activity boards on the device for each
activity.
6. When teaching academic material involving low-impact, short-term use vocabulary (i.e
Abraham Lincoln), consider using light tech materials for PARTICIPATION OBJECTIVES instead
of making activity boards. Consider what long-term, high impact vocabulary CAN be addressed
during the academic subject (i.e. like it what is that? all done) and target THAT vocabulary
on the device (LONG TERM COMMUNICATION OBJECTIVES).
7. Use the smallest buttons a student can consistently access physically and visually to give them
the most complete vocabulary possible.
8. Hide buttons during the learning process to simplify rather than reducing the number of buttons
per page.
9. As much as possible, use ONE high tech communication device for all environments during the
language learning stage to use every possible teachable moment to teach long-term, high
impact vocabulary navigation and use. i.e. teach ONE language, not TWO! No separate home
and school devices if possible!
10. Conduct a CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION OBSERVATION to assess the communication style of
the teaching staff, the communication demands of the classroom and the participation patterns
of the other students. Analyze one activity to breakdown specific techniques for the staff that
would be generalizable to other activities during the day. An example:
http://www.dynavoxtech.com/implementation-toolkit/details.aspx?id=421
HAVE FUN! ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION IS TO
ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS!

Dynamic Therapy Associates, Inc

www.mydynamictherapy.com

copyright 10/1/2011