Lin Zhang Valter Vilar Geneva Centre for Autism E-Learning: A Tool To Support Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Training

Agenda Background Online Assignment Multimedia Train the Trainers Bilingual Sites

Background

Online Assignment

Multimedia

Train the Trainers

Bilingual Sites

Background

Background – About Geneva Centre for Autism Non-profit organization An international leader in the development and delivery of clinical intervention services and training. Founded in 1974. Named for an international conference on autism that had taken place in Switzerland that year. Offers comprehensive education and training services which enable parents and professionals to become effective interveners and advocates for people with ASD.

Non-profit organization

An international leader in the development and delivery of clinical intervention services and training.

Founded in 1974. Named for an international conference on autism that had taken place in Switzerland that year.

Offers comprehensive education and training services which enable parents and professionals to become effective interveners and advocates for people with ASD.

Background - Autism What is Autism? Autism is a life-long developmental disorder that seriously affects the way individuals communicate and interact with those around them. It usually manifests itself during the first three years of life. Autism is often referred to as a "spectrum disorder," meaning that its symptoms and characteristics can present themselves in a variety of combinations, ranging from mild to quite severe. The phrase “Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)” refers to a broad definition of autism including the classical form of the disorder as well as Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS), Rett's syndrome, Asperger syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. www.autism.net

What is Autism? Autism is a life-long developmental disorder that seriously affects the way individuals communicate and interact with those around them. It usually manifests itself during the first three years of life. Autism is often referred to as a "spectrum disorder," meaning that its symptoms and characteristics can present themselves in a variety of combinations, ranging from mild to quite severe. The phrase “Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)” refers to a broad definition of autism including the classical form of the disorder as well as Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS), Rett's syndrome, Asperger syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Background – About Provincial Training Initiatives Funded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services Provincial Teachers’ Assistant Training Initiative Provincial Child Care Support Program

Funded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services

Provincial Teachers’ Assistant Training Initiative

Provincial Child Care Support Program

Background – E-Learning Project An important component of our Provincial Training Initiatives Online courses Videos Materials that can be downloaded for use such as visuals and tip sheets

An important component of our Provincial Training Initiatives

Online courses

Videos

Materials that can be downloaded for use such as visuals and tip sheets

Our Users Teachers Assistants Resource Consultants Home visitors Families

Teachers Assistants

Resource Consultants

Home visitors

Families

Online Assignment

Facts 7,000+ Teachers Assistant 20+ Provincial Autism Resource Consultants 77 School boards across the province 200+ Training sessions

7,000+ Teachers Assistant

20+ Provincial Autism Resource Consultants

77 School boards across the province

200+ Training sessions

The paper way Consultants provide face to face training TAs write their assignments Forward to the TAs Blank Assignments Consultants provide face to face training TAs write their assignments Submit to their school board contact person Assignments Consultants mark the assignment Admins print out the Certificate Certificates Sent back to the school board contact person Certificates Blank Assignments Consultants provide face to face training TAs write their assignments Forward to the TAs

The Paper Way Time consuming Hard to manage and track Difficult to control deadline Not Green

Time consuming

Hard to manage and track

Difficult to control deadline

Not Green

The Moodle Way TAs check the mark online Consultants mark the assignment online Consultants provide face to face training Access code TAs write their assignments Submit Online Admins print out the certificates Certificates TAs check the mark online

Benefits Optimized: submissions, markings, certificate issuing process Shorter turn around time Deadline control Green

Optimized: submissions, markings, certificate issuing process

Shorter turn around time

Deadline control

Green

Challenges Unknown student list Many Consultants and TAs are not computer savvy Shared assignment pool for consultants

Unknown student list

Many Consultants and TAs are not computer savvy

Shared assignment pool for consultants

Online Assignment Solution Moodle Roles: New role - Consultants : modified non-editing teacher role Assign all Consultants as global Consultants role New role - Admin : modified teacher role to provide support to Teacher’s Assistants Assign all Admin staff as global Admin role Scales: Assignment Complete - Certificate of Achievement granted Assignment Incomplete - Certificate of Participation granted

Moodle Roles:

New role - Consultants : modified non-editing teacher role Assign all Consultants as global Consultants role

New role - Admin : modified teacher role to provide support to Teacher’s Assistants Assign all Admin staff as global Admin role

Scales:

Assignment Complete - Certificate of Achievement granted

Assignment Incomplete - Certificate of Participation granted

Online Assignment Solution Closed course with enrolment key Forced separate group Each training session (group) has one unique enrolment key Consultants provide the keys to the student at the end of the face to face training

Closed course with enrolment key

Forced separate group

Each training session (group) has one unique enrolment key

Consultants provide the keys to the student at the end of the face to face training

Online Assignment Solution Access code 1585 deadline: April 1 st 2008 Access code 1789 deadline: May 1st 2008 Access code 1156 deadline: June 1st 2008 TA Course Spring/Summer 2008

Achievements During Spring/Summer 2008, we’ve had created 179 separate groups and 2000+ assignment submissions. Shortened certificate issuance period Better deadline control Thank you, Moodle!

During Spring/Summer 2008, we’ve had created 179 separate groups and 2000+ assignment submissions.

Shortened certificate issuance period

Better deadline control

Lessons Learned Detailed instructions are important Not everyone is using Microsoft Word. Provide multiple formats for downloading

Detailed instructions are important

Not everyone is using Microsoft Word. Provide multiple formats for downloading

Multimedia

Formats Audio and/or video synchronized presentation Video demonstration Live online presentation

Audio and/or video synchronized presentation

Video demonstration

Live online presentation

Audio synchronized presentation

Sample Video Demonstration

Live Webinar

Tools used Audio Editing Video editing Video converting Presentations Audacity Adobe Connect Pro Sound Booth Adobe Connect Pro Captivate Adobe Connect Pro Free SUPER Free HandBrake Free Premiere Pro After Effects Movie Maker (windows) iMovie (Mac) Asf Tools Free

Audio Editing

Video editing

Video converting

Presentations

SUPER

Multimedia rich: advantages Engaging Easy to follow

Engaging

Easy to follow

Multimedia rich: disadvantages Not suitable for dial-ups Slow development progress

Not suitable for dial-ups

Slow development progress

Train the Trainers

Internal Staff Training Moodle Site For staff and volunteers in Geneva Centre for Autism Closed registration

For staff and volunteers in Geneva Centre for Autism

Closed registration

Internal Site Topics Recorded presentations Onsite new staff training registration Live Webinars HR related training Computer related tutorials Adobe Captivate Adobe Connect Pro

Recorded presentations

Onsite new staff training registration

Live Webinars

HR related training

Computer related tutorials

Bilingual Sites

Bilingual Sites and its Administrative Issues Two Separate Moodle sites for English and French Reasons Two languages required from the ministry Same information in both languages Separate users and consultants group Multimedia rich content hard to switch languages

Two Separate Moodle sites for English and French

Reasons

Two languages required from the ministry

Same information in both languages

Separate users and consultants group

Multimedia rich content hard to switch languages

Bilingual Advantages Easy user management Separate course creation process Clear user report

Easy user management

Separate course creation process

Clear user report

Bilingual Disadvantages Dual login for curious bilingual students

Dual login for curious bilingual students

Next Step Moodle Network

Moodle Network

Thank You! Questions?