The document discusses the importance of technology at REED Academy, a school for students with autism. It outlines how technology can be used across various areas like student assessment, programming, rewards, and professional development. The principal proposes developing a strategic action plan to conduct a needs assessment, identify funding, research grants, and make upgrades to further integrate technology. Representatives are invited to a kickoff meeting to begin this process.

1. Moving into the Digital Age
The importance of technology at REED Academy
Leah M. Farinola, Principal

2. REED’s mission is to provide the most effective science-based
intervention to individuals with autism so that they become
independent, productive, and contributing members of their
families and communities.
 Private, not-for-profit school
 DOE approved, Middle States
Accredited
 Founded in 2003 by 6 families
 Serving 36 students with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD)between
the ages of 3-18
 Approved for 3-31
 Exploring adult services and
early intervention
 Applied Behavior Analytic program

3. Presentation Overview
 The Importance of Technology
 Where Does it Fit?
 Student Assessment
 Student Programming
 Student Rewards
 Professional Development
 Community Outreach and Education
 Fundraising
 The Next Steps
 Strategic Action Plan
 Who’s With Me?!
 References
Image Source: http://sites.psu.edu/teched/2015/04/15/pas10-technology-is-our-future/

4. The Importance of Technology
 Increase in interconnectivity via exponential increase of technological
advances (Stewart, 2012)
 International testing
 Global competition
 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards
 Visionary Leadership
 Digital-Age Learning Culture
 Excellence in Professional Practice
 Systematic Improvement
 Digital Citizenship
 Behavior Analytic Certification Board (BACB) Standards
 One of the seven characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis is TECHNOLOGICAL

5. Where does it fit?
 Student Assessment
 Student Programming
 Student Rewards
 Professional Development
 Parent Training
 Community Outreach and Education
 Fundraising

6. Student Assessment
 VB-MAPP computer assisted support
 ABAdat.com online database
 Programs, activities, materials and data sheets based on empirically-validated
procedures
 Research and review various online and technologically-based assessments for
individuals with autism from 3 to 21 years of age
Image Source: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vb-mapp/id521566089?mt=8

7. Student Programming
 Teaching Opportunities
 Following a schedule on an iPad/iPod
 Full-day schedule at school
 Social interaction schedule with a peer
 Cooking schedule to prepare lunch
 Various skill acquisition programs
 Communication device
 Alternative communication devices
 ProLoquo2Go, Dynavox
 Promote development of language and socialization

8. Student Programming
 Smart phone usage for teaching, safety and identification
 Teach students how to make emergency calls
 Share information or location if lost
 Bluetooth technology
 SmartBoards
 Group activities
 Interactive lessons
 Physical education
 Exercise routines and video modeling
 SmartTables
 Group and individual activities for younger students
 Sorting
 Matching
 Identification
Image Source: http://www.miamiliquidations.com/shop/product/view/1/25

9. Student Programming
 Social Media
 Provide students with the skills to engage in age-appropriate leisure activities
 Facebook
 Pinterest
 E-mail
 YouTube
 Video games
 Data Collection
 Collect and record data on an iPad
 Graph data in Excel
 Video record sessions to score inter-observer agreement (IOA) data

10. Student Rewards
iPads/iPods
 Various apps for games and
interests
 Music
 YouTube
Computers
 Games
 Surfing the web
 Movies and videos online

11. Professional Development
 School-wide staff training
 Record and respond to various scenarios
 JEOPARDY style game for staff development sessions
 Individual professional growth
 Record sessions and provide feedback and training

12. Parent Training
 Lecture series
 On-Site training
 One evening every 6 – 8 weeks
 Virtual via LiveMeeting
 Record specific staff teaching programs, skills and behavior to model for
families and caregivers
 Skype
 Train on data collection on iPad

13. Community Outreach and Education
 Visitor Days
 Share multimedia presentation to potential families and
districts
 Business Partnerships for Structured Learning
Experiences (SLE)
 Solicit partnerships for student work experience at local
businesses and organizations

14. Fundraising
 Develop print and video materials for marketing
 Link to school’s website and provide email blast capabilities
 Utilize sites for maintaining donor databases, disseminating newsletters and
processing of online donations
 eTapestry
 Blackbaud
 Constant Contact

15. The Next Steps
 Conduct a needs assessment
 Identify funding needed
 Develop budget
 Solicit donations
 Research and apply for grants
 Assign responsibilities in Strategic Action Plan to key participants
 Process will be guided by “The 8-Step Process for Leading Change” by John Kotter

16. “The 8-Step Process for Leading
Change” by John Kotter (2015)
 Step 1: Create a sense of urgency
 Step 2: Build a guiding coalition
 Step 3: Form strategic visions and initiatives
 Step 4: Enlist volunteer army
 Step 5: Enable action by removing barriers
 Step 6: Generate short-term wins
 Step 7: Sustain acceleration
 Step 8: Institute change

17. Strategic Action Plan
 Provide training to administrative staff members to enhance technological
and multi-media skills
 Contract with technology company to provide online and on-site support for
troubleshooting and repairs
 Suggest upgrades and enhancements as necessary
 Investigate and secure appropriate grants and funding
 Develop some marketing and PR materials to solicit donations for
technological enhancements
 Attend professional development conferences and sessions on various
technology topics

18. Who’s With Me?!
 Kickoff meeting is scheduled for June 4 at 3:15pm
 Monthly meetings to follow
 Please send confirmation of participation to leah@reedacademy.org

19. Thank you for your time!
 Any questions?

20. References
 International Society for Technology in education (ISTE), (2015). ISTE
Standards. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards on May 19, 2015.
 Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.bacb.com on May 28, 2015.
 Kotter, J., (2015) The 8-Step Process for Leading Change. Retrieved from
http://www.kotterinternational.com/the-8-step-process-for-leading-change/
on May 26, 2015.
 Stewart, V., (2012). World Class Education, Chapter 1 – Globalization and
Education. ASCD Books. Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/111016/chapters/Globalization-
and-Education.aspx on May 26, 2015.