Tangible Symbol Systems Online Course Agenda
Logistics and Introductions
  1. Setting up your computer
  2. Welcome
  3. Course objectives

Unit 1. Tangible Symbols and their Relationship to Communication Development

  1. Introductory video
  2. Elements of communication
  3. Sequence of communication development
  4. Properties of Tangible Symbols
  5. Levels of representation: three-dimensional symbols
  6. Levels of representation: two-dimensional symbols
  7. Constructing Tangible Symbols
  8. Useful tips for making symbols

Unit 2. Readiness and Motivation

  1. Concept of readiness
  2. Indicators of response
  3. Evaluating readiness
  4. Data illustrating the importance of readiness
  5. Assessing communication skills
  6. Readiness to use Tangible Symbols for receptive communication
  7. Why motivation is so important
  8. What if you don’t know what motivates the learner?
  9. What if the learner doesn’t want to interact with other people?
  10. Motivation is a moving target


Unit 3. Where to Start

  1. Where to start; the Tangible Symbols pretest
  2. Some helpful hints on conducting a pretest
  3. Indicating responses
  4. Scanning the array of symbols
  5. Gaining attention prior to selecting a symbol
  6. Accommodating orthopedic and visual impairments through the symbol array
  7. Communicative intent associated with early symbol use
  8. What to talk about … referents

Unit 4. Documenting and Monitoring Instruction

  1. Why we have comprehension checks
  2. Requesting procedure
  3. Drop the comprehension check when the symbol is acquired
  4. Position bias
  5. Distractor symbols
  6. Tactile scanning
  7. Monitoring instruction

Unit 5. Instructional Strategies

  1. Receptive use of Tangible Symbols
  2. Expressive use of Tangible Symbols
  3. Calendar boxes
  4. Scripting the learning activity
  5. Analyzing the learning value of an activity

Unit 6. Promoting Progress

  1. Strategies for promoting progress
    1. New Vocabulary
    2. Changing array size
    3. Generalization
    4. Communicative intent
    5. Length of symbol utterance
    6. Portability of symbols
  2. Using the Intervention Record
  3. Successful transitions to new environments

Unit 7. Case Studies

  1. Case Study 1: Brandon
  2. Case Study 2: Katie
  3. Katie: scene 5 highlights
  4. Case Study 3: Matt
  5. Case Study 4: Alberto
  6. Case Study 5: Damien

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