Simmons,+Cheryl

**Deliverable #2** [|**http://www.simmonsotcorner.blogspot.com/**] http://thursdayslunch.blogspot.com/ **Summary on Blog under** Session # 4: I took a slightly creative approach to this assignment to help it fit within my discipline. First, I just wanted to expand my personal blog and make it useful for me on a daily basis. As a traveling therapist, I'm in a number of districts, schools and interact with a variety of staff. I was hoping to develop my blog to help keep track of all the tools that are available online that I can share with others. (Now, if I can only have access to blogger in all of the districts where I work.) I've found a new community of therapists who are starting their own blogs. Some are outstanding and I can't believe how much I've learned from just reading and exploring. It is the ultimate professional development tool. I hoped to keep this blog as my 'center' and build off of this blog. I added a few links- my favorite blogs, favorite companies, and a place to link to my blogs that I will use with students. One particular classroom where I want to integrate a blog is in a high school life skill class. Many of the students in this class are working on prevocational and independent living skills. Each week, the students plan a "Soup" that they sell to the faculty on Thursday during the lunch period. The process of making the soup takes all week. The students plan, shop, estimate the cost, chop, cook, and prepare the soup to sell on Thursday. It is through this functional activity where students work on writing, reading, math and communication skills. This year due to popular demand, we published a recipe book of all the weekly soups. We have almost 20 staff members who consistently support the program each week. Next year, I hope to include a weekly update through the blog called Thursday's Lunch. My goal would be to identify one or two students (I have one in mind) in this life class that could manage the blog including posting - The announcement of the weekly Soup, the recipe and ingredients. At the end of the week a survey from faculty to see if people liked the recipe. It will be a great activity for the students to post and read the comments at the end of each week. In this life skill class there are students with varying skills and reading levels. Many of the students in these classes are struggling readers and writers. I'm often involved due to their difficulties with fine motor, visual problems or general social/ communication difficulties. Utilizing technology is often a motivating factor to have students practice their reading and writing skills. With the classroom teacher's help, we will identify the appropriate students for this job and monitor their performance and independence level. The goal would be to reinforce their keyboarding skills, functional proofreading and for some select students utilizing specialized software that may help with word processing. This will help us keep a log of our weekly progress and parents can also be involved in seeing what their children are doing during this portion of the “life skills” class. I also think it will help integrate the students more within the school community- meeting other teachers and staff that they may not have the opportunity to interact on a weekly basis. Much learning and motivation comes from these simple interactions with various staff and teachers around the building. I hope that this blog will be another vehicle to encourage this interaction and community integration. http://thursdayslunch.blogspot.com/ Lesson Plan for Deliverable 2: __ Introduction __ : Thursday’s Lunch Each week students at EGHS create a unique Soup, Salad or Casserole dish to be sold to the faculty during lunch period. The Blog will be a weekly post of the Selected Lunch including recipe, ingredients and a picture if available. At the end of the week, we hope to include a survey. __ Goals & Jobs: __ Student 1: will independently manage the blog, after several weeks of practice and instruction. Student 2: will find the picture of the recipe. He will cut and paste the picture to print out to include in paper recipe book. Email this picture link to the blog moderator. Student 3: (Could be several students at different times): will copy, type and format the recipe to be included in the weekly blog. Student 4: (could be several students) will keyboard the recipe to include in paper cookbook and as a weekly download. Student 5: will create the shopping list from the recipe. This may be included as a download on the blog. __ Pre-Lesson activities __ : This will be a learning process that may take the entire quarter. We will work on finding a recipe online, saving favorite websites. Discussion on how to format a paper so it is easy for the reader. Review of proofreading mistakes. Practice with near point copying. Lessons for finding, saving and importing pictures. There are lessons initially about work behaviors, participation and independence. __ Writing Assignment __ :
 * [[file:final project.doc]][[file:Final Presentation Deliverable 3.doc]][[file:Final Presentation Deliverable 3.doc]]Cheryl Simmons**
 * All students will complete a search on select weeks of possible soup recipes.
 * All students will make one comment a week on the blog, either in anticipation of the recipe or a result of the recipe.
 * All students will read the comments from staff.
 * Includes letters and notices to staff announcing blog.
 * Emails to staff announcing blog.
 * Weekly copying of recipe book- each student will make their own as well as contribute to the class book that will be sold at the end of the year.
 * Weekly posts to comments either, commenting on the recipe and anticipation or comments on the actual taste of the soup.

__ Differentiated instruction __ : All students will have a different job of the selected assignments depending on individual goals. Some students may have the job of helping to spread the word (i.e. using power chair to deliver announcements of opening of blog). __ Assessment __ : Score guide: Include Rubric for Work Performance: Job Assignment: Independence : How much help did I need on this job? 5- I needed no help 4- I asked a few questions 3- I needed someone to show me a few things. 2- I needed someone to sit with me for a lot of the job. 1- I needed someone to sit with me for the entire job. Attitude: How was my attitude with this job? 5- Excellent, I started working immediately and was focused the entire time. 4- Good, I worked well with very few comments 3- Fair, I was slow to start but kept working to get the job done. 2- Poor, I needed a lot of encouragement to finish the job. I complained a lot. 1- Not complete, the job was not completed due to distractions by me. Skills worked on during this job: Pick 2: Score: _ How was your independence in this skill? 5- I needed no help. I’ve mastered this skill. 4- I asked a few questions. I am learning this skill 3- I needed someone to show me a few things. 2- I needed someone to sit with me for a lot of the job. 1- I needed someone to sit with me for the entire job. How do you think the Recipe was this week? _ How did the team work together in getting the job done? _ Deliverable # 3 Date: July 25, 2008 To: Administration Bristol County Rehabilitation Services Director of Student Services From: Cheryl Simmons Occupational Therapist Re: Incorporation of Web 2.0 tools into Daily Practice Dear XXXXX and XXXXXX, This year, I would like to try a few new tools within my daily practice. I will need your support and approval to incorporate these tools, but I feel strongly that as we move into the digital age, they will help foster communication and management of my job responsibilities. I also hope that becoming more acquainted with these tools; will help me to better support my students and the schools where I am assigned. First, my ultimate goal as a school based occupational therapist is to support students in accessing the curriculum. As you know, once tools are created in a digital format it is much easier to manipulate and access these tools for students with varying skills and abilities. Secondly, my role as a school based occupational therapist is to collaborate with teams in developing new or varying programs. This year, I am assigned to 2 teams looking at modifying programs: Including: Implementing an Regional Assistive Technology Team and in a Specific District “High School Life Skill Transitional Team”. I am also a member of a larger group of occupational therapists within these districts. Now, that I am more familiar with some of the online tools (specifically wikis- a simple web page on the internet that can be edited by group members) I see that there are numerous ways that they can make my work life easier as well as be easily incorporated into my treatment and service plans with specific students. Web 2.0 tools can be defined as: // A category of internet tools and technologies created around the idea that the people who access the internet and can be active contributors to customize media and technology for their own purposes as well as those of their communities. // http://www.techsoup.org/toolkits/web2/  I am proposing to use 3 tools this year in my practice. There is one tool in particular that I feel will be especially helpful for all therapists working at BCRS and after learning and experiencing the service myself, I may be able to provide more insight into the tools for others. The best part of these tools is that they are free! __ **Proposed Tools/ Services** __:   My plan is to first develop my own desktop. I would then like to develop one for BCRS that could be access and shared with any therapist who would like to join. Ultimately, I think that all of the staff at BCRS may find this useful especially the calendar feature.  It is my plan to use this as my home online desk. From this site, that I can access all of my files from any building. I am then hoping to develop wikis and spaces for the particular teams that I am working on and then invite other participants to join me. Here is a brief description of [|www.airset.com] and a brief review http://elitevas.wordpress.com/2007/02/27/airset-a-survival-kit-for-busy-people/    Wikis (Hawaiian word for quick) lets you create simple web pages that groups, friends, and families can edit together. This link provides a great brief video of how wiki’s work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY  I would also like to use the service at //__wikispaces.com__//. I specifically want to use //__wikispaces.com__// to work with the developing Regional Assistive Technology Team and specific district therapist team. My plan is to develop a different wiki space for each team to make it easier for us to collaborate over the year. I am choosing to use //__wikispaces.com__// instead of the wiki on //Airset.com// because some of the members of the team will not all be staff members of BCRS and from a variety of districts. Therefore we can all access this particular wiki, and then I will be able to link it easily from my Airset desktop. Oher participants will not need to join Airset.com- only wikispaces.com and can keep the links from their personal computer.  <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">I also would like to develop a wiki to use with one of my high school student and her educational team. This particular student has had a recent brain injury and has been left with mild cognitive deficits impacting memory and organization. I was hoping to use this wiki for the student and teachers to help keep track of long term assignments and to help convey specific messages to support staff at home. Again, having the wiki instead of email will allow all of the team (student, parent, teachers and support staff) to have access to all of the information at the same time. This will be my first time trying this with a student and educational team, but I see it working easier than the paper schedule book or leaving communication up to phone calls and emails. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">I would like to incorporate using David Warlick’s educational blog service <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">http://classblogmeister.com/index.php to support the Mrs. Healy’s Life Skills program at EGHS. There is a growing body of evidence that Web 2.0 tools such as wikis and blogs can facilitate learning. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> http://pedagogytools.pbwiki.com/Blogs-and-Pedagogy <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Each week the students create and prepare lunch for the faculty. We would like to <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">include the blog as an announcement to staff as to the lunch that is planned, include the recipes and then provide a spot for comments. In our districts blogs services are blocked. I would like to Dave Warkick’s blog service as it is specific to classrooms and the teacher can have the ability to approve each post before posted. I realize that blog sites are blocked in this district, but I have few contacts of other school districts with similar policies that after looking at Mr. Warlick’s policies and services agreed to unblocking this service. I ask that you only consider this as an option and I can provide you with 2 contacts of other districts in RI that have decided to take this route as an alternative to Blogger.com. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">I’ve linked an great example from a teacher in <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Canada <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> who uses this blog in her first grade classroom. http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337 <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Here is a sample in blogger as how I would see the set up of the Thurday’s Lunch blog: http://www.thursdayslunch.blogspot.com/ <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Some implementation concerns: <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> //__<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">First and most important: Student Safety and Privacy __//<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">: <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">I realize that many parents, administrators and educators are concerned with the use of blogs and wikis in the classroom and the security risks. As part of the inclusion of the tools with classrooms and students, I plan to follow the safety technology plan, including: <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">1. Send home a specific permission slip to parents. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">2. Never include personal or individual pictures of students or staff <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">3. Never include names of students <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">4. Observe and supervise every post and comment to the blog. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">I also feel that in implementing the use of web 2.0 tools may offer some resistance from the staff. I’m hoping that by developing my own tools/ desktop in Airset.com and specifically creating a generic desktop of links for the districts that we service, more staff members would like access to this virtual office. I also hope that in using wikis for professional teams it will develop confidence and comfort level with others to eventually begin to use it more in daily practice with students and classrooms. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The goal for this year to build a comfort level with the 3 tools mentioned above. For the Airset.com tool, I hope to try it out specifically for a few months to evaluate the benefits. If it works as efficiently as I think it will, BCRS may want to move toward developing communications for all staff. I also hope that by using Wikis with professional teams and with this one particular student & educational team, it will build my confidence and comfort level in incorporating more within my practice. Using the education blog, is also an exciting place to start with this one activity. If all goes well, I see us developing more blogs specific to transition issues for parents and students. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Thank you for your ongoing support and consideration of these tools and supporting professional development. I feel that they are digital tools that will not only help with efficiency in my own work, but will help support many of my future students. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Sincerely, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Cheryl Simmons <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> Final Project: Dear EDC 921: For my final project, I created a professional development plan for a therapy department. The ultimate goal was to improve the exposure, understanding and use of Web 2.0 tools into our daily practice. Since as a department, we are located in a variety of districts, schools and teams I know that it would be easier to communicate using some of the Web 2.0 tools. I hope that be incorporating it into our professional lives, we as therapists will then be able to teach and think of creative ways to integrate these technlogies with our students and classrooms. Ultimately, creating an Therapy Office Online was the first Goal. To allow staff access to documents, schedules calendars and the ability to communicate collaboratively. Right now, we do it all by email and one yahoo calendar. Someone recommended airset.com to me as an online organizational system and it seemed to be an ideal online tool for a traveling clinician. Check it out at [|www.airset.com]. I then hoped staff would utilize a wiki for a specific referral process for students on service who need an assistive technology evaluation. These evaluations are new to our region but we are developing a new team this year and what better way to collaborate than through a Wiki! Our plan is to use a closed wiki for this collaborative assessment process. Also included in the professional development plan is some foundation skill development for therapist to consider when looking at having students access technology including free tools that are available online or in the operating systemcess to online tools accessible for all students.
 * 1) //__ **Airset.com** __//<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">: Airset describes itself as a Web Computer. It is a computer that lives in the internet and is accessible from any device with a web browser. Basically, I see this service as an online tool where I can store my calendar, contact info, important documents, and templates for Evals, progress notes. There are also options to link to Blogs and Wikis- hosted by airset. (Services which are blocked in several districts where we work, but when linked from this site are available.) <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">
 * 1) //__ **Wikispaces.com** __//
 * 1) //__ **Educational Blog at www.classblogmeister.com** __//

It has been a pleasure learning and reading all of your posts. Take care,

Cheryl

EDC 921 Final Project Summer Semester Cheryl Simmons **Title: __Adding Web 2.0 Tools to Your Therapy Bag of Tricks__** **Intended Audience: Related Service Providers in Educational Environments.** ** Occupational and Physical Therapists,** **Speech and Language Pathologists ** **Introduction** : Technology is significantly impacting education. Many students are entering school with computers in their homes, experience with researching the internet and have already learned how to access information independently. The frequent use of technology and resources on the web has quickly made using the computer an Activity of Daily Living (ADL). As a rehabilitation provider regardless of the specific discipline, our ultimate goal is to help students gain independence within the educational environment as well as foster appropriate access to the curriculum. As more teachers use technology in their classrooms, the students we service may need to use these Web 2.0 tools to complete assignments, communicate with peers and to foster and demonstrate learning. This is exciting, as we know that often technology can help to bridge the barriers for many of our students who require differentiated instruction. To help support these classroom routines and the specific skills of the student we work with, as related service providers we need to be aware and invested in these technologies to better support and understand the educational expectations of our students. Understanding and experience with these tools on a personal and professional level will also help us to foster unique uses of these technologies to meet specific individual goals and needs of our students within their daily routine and educational plan.. __ **Goals** __ : By taking this Professional Development program at the end of the session’s learners will demonstrate the ability to: Specific skills attendees will learn: Development of a Wiki with one personal student or Team. __ **Pre-Activities** __ : Identify the need to increase professional efficiency for staff, collaborate and communicate easier as a department despite the challenges of being in many different districts. Identify goals for the //__Therapy Office Online__// //__ Staff should come to Professional Development time with __////__ Flash Drive __////__ and on the __////__ Flash Drive __////__ favorite documents that are used in their practice from personal computers. __// __ **Professional Development Plan** __ //__ Session 1: Current Online Documentation Tools and Productive Tools: __// //__ Introduction of Therapy Online Office __// (Pre-Learning Activities) <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Therapy Calendar for student meetings <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Staff Calendar for in-services, deadlines, trainings and staff meetings <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  TIENET <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Weekly hours <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Maxcapture <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Individual District websites Activity: Provide time to learn to access and use online tools that are in place and were used last year. Be sure all Staff can access and understand how to document tools. This office will include: <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Documents of Therapy Documents including: <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Consent forms, Release forms, Permission to evaluate, Meeting \ Minutes, IEP notices and Exit documents. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Student Service Documents Letters to Parents, Therapy Templates, Progress Note Templates, Daily Therapy Logs <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Specific Announcements, Policies and Protocols, Ordering Equipment Ordering documents <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Time Sheet, Staff Time off requests, Continuing Ed requests <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Favorite Therapy Documents Parent Handouts, Therapist designed exercises, Sensory Diet Forms, Sample Documents, Summary of Consults and skill development tools <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Contact list of all emails and Staff: Online links as well as PDF to print for schedule book <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Links: Links to all the online tools and documentation websites <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Links to all district websites and regional office <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Links to RIDE, Dept. of Health and National/ State Organizations <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Links to Favorite Companies to Order equipment <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> Ø  Links to other Wiki’s or Specialized Teams <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Wiki’s : Staff/ Individual Service Team Wiki’s <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Blogs : Links to Favorite Blogs <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Online Staff Calendar //__ Session 2 Online Calendars: Personal, Professional and Student Use __// Discussion: Online Calendars Look at Yahoo. Com Calendar for student meetings Google Calendar Airset Calendar Activity: Staff all to develop a log in for Airset.com to access Therapy Online Office and Calendar Staff to start own page on Airset.com to allow access and practice with online calendars. Place to collect online collection in the future. //__ Session 3 __// : __Discussion of Assistive Technology Tools to Support Students with Special Needs. __ Pre-learning activities: Discuss foundation skills needed for Accessing the computer: Assessment of Foundation Skills: What to gather when considering a referral for AT services: Visual Abilities when using the computer Physical Abilities when using the computer Literacy skills- current accommodations General ability to keyboard and use a mouse: General Online tools, Online Trainings, Online Blogs and Online List serves for professionals. Add these resources to Airset.com account. __ Session 4: Using a Wiki on Wikispaces.com for a Referral Process for Regional Assistive Technology Services __. Activity: Introduction to Wikispaces.com Demonstration of the wikispace specific for AT referrals. Setup own Wikispaces account. Sample and practice how to download documents or complete forms online. Email submissions to office. //__ Session 5: What is a Wiki? __// Goal: Staff should feel comfortable being able to consult and assist a classroom teacher in setting up a wiki if identified as a need. Staff should be able to identify professional development tools to share with others in incorporating wikis into the classroom. //__ Session 6: General Access Concerns for Students Accessing the Computer or the Web __// Review and demonstrate accessing: Modify Keyboard input, modify mouse control, Modify cursor, Modify Visual presentation Same as in XP, but advanced, Explore Voice Activation, Explore adding Audio to read text. Free Accessibility Tools and add- ons for Fire Fox Web Browser: Entire Summary will be posted on Therapy Online Office. __ Session 7: What is a Blog? How is it being used in Education? __ There are a few terrific Blogs for Occupational therapists working in the school districts. Outstanding source of FREE Professional Development. Take the time to review and add favorite Blog links to Airset.com account. __ Session 8: Review and Consult regarding new understanding of the Therapy Office Online and the Web 2.0 tools//.// __
 * 1) Improve communication among all staff members within the Rehabilitation/ Related Service Department.
 * 2) Develop skills and knowledge with accessing the  **//__ Therapy Office Online __// **
 * 3) Develop improved communication among various special project teams that professionals are assigned to within the year.
 * 4) Identify several web 2.0 tools that can support student learning and participation.
 * 5) Identify and compile a personal list of online professional development resources and parent resources that can be accessed from any school in varying districts.
 * 1) Independently access all of the online professional tools needed to complete student documentation as expected within the region.
 * 2) Gain experience and knowledge of online calendars. Including the use of specific region based calendars for student meetings and staff meetings and trainings. Most likely, from this exposure participants will also identify a team or specific student where these online calendars will be helpful to foster communication and organization. The opportunity to create own personal online organizational system.
 * 3) The ability to access the New //__Therapy Office Online__//: a Spot online to access all necessary documents.
 * 4) Knowledge and exposure to Wiki’s. The ability to access BCRS AT referral Wiki – a new team that is starting this year.
 * 1) Knowledge of the Use of Blogs in Education. The ability to Define Blog. Develop a list of favorite online blogs for personal professional development or blogs that can be helpful to parents.
 * 1) Introduction to staff at Dept. meeting. Discuss the development of the use of the Computer as an ADL skill. Identify how functionally technologies are being used in the classrooms that we work in today. Discuss the physical, sensory and cognitive needs of an individual needed to access the computer and what happens when students have difficulty accessing the computer.
 * 1) Identify all of the online services that staff needs to access for documentation.
 * 1) Incorporate and Teach Staff how to Access Therapy Online office at Airset.com
 * 1) How to use online calendars for efficiency and communication among the department, teams and professionals.
 * 2) Discuss ideas and strategies around using online calendars for students with organizational difficulties: Discuss Benefits, Roadblocks.
 * Assistive Technology in Special Education
 * Development of District Assessment Team
 * When should educational Teams consider this for a student
 * Discuss Keyboarding skill development with children with motor planning and fine motor difficulties.
 * Online resources for therapists for teaching keyboarding, mouse skills and overall access skills.
 * Review Referral Process and Documents needed:
 * Discuss what is a WIKI and why are we using it for this team?
 * Discuss parameters for online communication and student confidentiality. No specific students will be discussed on this Wiki. It will be for referral questions, equipment questions and access to the referral documents. All team members who are referring students for AT consultations will have access to this wiki- not just Related service staff.
 * There will be 2 Wiki’s one open to all staff to ask general questions.
 * A closed private Wiki for just the assessment team. Therefore, documents can be worked on collaboratively. Referrals can be read by all, meetings can be held on weekly basis online and collaborative reports can be written if needed.
 * Review Wiki’s and how they are being incorporated into companies and education.
 * How can we incorporate Wiki’s into our practice?
 * What other Wiki’s should we set up for collaborative teams?
 * Should we set up a Wiki for Each district?
 * Review Samples of Wikis in the classroom.
 * Review Specific examples of how to incorporate that in Life Skills Programs.
 * Break up into teams spend time setting up Wikis for specific Professional teams as needed All links need to be on Therapy Online Office and ALL department staff must be able to have access and the ability to post.
 * Free tools and accessibility features in Windows XP:
 * Free tools and accessibility features in Windows Vista:
 * Sample favorite Therapy blogs.
 * Review Favorite Classroom blogs.
 * Discussion of districts that are blocking access.
 * Sample so of classroom instructions.
 * By last session, staff should have had time to explore and implement some of the tools reviewed in previous activities.
 * Answer any questions
 * Share new Wikis developed
 * Update Airset.com accounts for all staff
 * Share observations with using the online calendars and online documentation.
 * Feedback on other items to add to //__Therapy Online Office__//: Be sure every staff member has tried.
 * Discuss how to integrate these tools with students. Samples of new trials.
 * Review Confidentiality and Internet Safety Protocols for Students.

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