Storyline 360 Project
Supporting Students with Autism in a Preschool Setting
This project was designed for an e-learning classroom, integrating my educational background and expertise in autism. It aims to provide an engaging, informative, and practical resource for educators and caregivers working with preschool-age children with autism. Its primary goal is to enhance the effective implementation of interventions and accommodations outlined in legally assigned Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Gap
The gap this project addresses lies in the frequent disconnect between the legal obligations specified in IEPs and the real-world application of these accommodations and interventions in the classroom.
Objectives & Learning Outcomes
Objective 1: Equip preschool educators with skills to create structured environments that meet the needs of children with autism.
Objective 2: Enable educators to implement communication strategies and manage transitions to improve social interaction and learning.
Learning Outcome 1: Educators will use visual schedules and consistent routines to help children with autism feel safe and engaged.
Learning Outcome 2: Educators will utilize communication aids, such as PECS, and manage tailored transitions to enhance social interactions and learning experiences for children with autism.
Understanding Autism:
The project begins by providing a brief overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), highlighting its characteristics and the diverse ways it can manifest in preschool-aged children. This foundational knowledge is essential for educators to recognize and appreciate each child's unique needs.
Effective Strategies:
A significant portion of the project focuses on practical strategies that educators can employ within the classroom. These include the use of visual schedules, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and other transitional tools. Each strategy is explained in detail, with examples of how to implement them effectively in daily routines.
Visual Supports:
Visual support is emphasized throughout the project. Visual aids, such as charts, symbols, and timers, are shown to be crucial in helping children with autism understand and navigate their environment, thereby reducing anxiety during transitions and enhancing communication.
Social Skills Development:
Attention is given to social skills development, with strategies aimed at facilitating positive peer interactions. The project includes interactive scenarios and role-playing activities that educators can use to encourage social engagement and appropriate behavior among preschoolers with autism.
Evaluation and Ongoing Learning:
The project concludes with suggestions for ongoing assessment and adaptation of strategies to meet each child's evolving needs. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of continuous learning and professional development for educators to become more effective in supporting children with autism.
Interactive Elements:
The project includes interactive elements such as quizzes, scenarios, and case studies designed to engage users and reinforce learning. These elements provide practical, real-world applications of the strategies discussed.
Application of WCAG & Section 508 & Universal Design Standards
Employed Contrast, Alignment, Proximity, and Repetition (CRAP) principles to enhance visual organization and learner engagement throughout the course.
Integrated Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines to ensure accessibility for all learners by:
Including closed captions for all voiceovers and narration to support comprehension.
Providing alt text for content-relevant images to improve accessibility.
Establishing a logical focus order and tab order in compliance with accessibility guidelines, ensuring effective navigation for visually impaired users.
Ensuring appropriate contrast between text and background to enhance readability.
Delivered clear instructions for navigating the module via both narration and on-screen prompts, facilitating an intuitive learning experience and promoting seamless interaction with interactive elements and content.
Mayer's Multi-Media Learning Principles
Coherence Principle: Essential information is included without overwhelming the learner.
Redundancy Principle: While some slides combine text, audio, and graphics, using layers and hover features helps manage information display.
Modality Principle: Minimal text and use of audio aim to reduce extraneous processing, breaking content into manageable chunks.
Developed interactive scenarios that enabled learners to apply knowledge, providing step-by-step guidance and feedback to reinforce effective strategies while allowing for question review.
Human Resources Interview Process
In developing the Articulate Rise project for my class, I focused on enhancing recruitment practices through a comprehensive training module designed for a company's Hiring Committee. My goal was to create a standardized interview process that aligns with company values and complies with legal standards. I concentrated on behavioral interviewing techniques using the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to help extract valuable insights from candidates' past experiences and assess their potential alignment with organizational goals. Additionally, I emphasized the importance of recognizing appropriate and inappropriate questions to ensure compliance with EEOC standards, promoting fair and unbiased interviews, and fostering workplace inclusivity. The training was designed to be interactive, offering practical scenarios that refine interviewing skills and lead to objective candidate assessments and informed decision-making. Through this project, I aimed to demonstrate the significance of hiring excellence by empowering the Hiring Committee to conduct effective and equitable interviews, ultimately aiding in attracting and selecting top talent.