Teaching Social Skills Through Technology November 7 th , 2012

1. Teaching Social Skills Through TechnologyNovember 7th, 2012 Presented by: Shannon R. Smith & Kristina McGarry

2. Shannon R. Smith • 8th year teaching diverse populations of students • 5th year as the Autistic Support Teacher at Holicong Middle School in CBSD • B.S. in Ed., Bloomsburg University of PA • M.S. in Ed. Leadership, Delaware Valley College • Dual Certified in Elem. & Spec. Ed. • Highly Qualified in all middle school core subjects • Administrative I (Principal) Certification (DVC) • Special Education Supervisor Certification (DVC)

3. Kristina McGarry • 2nd year working with kindergarten through 9th grade students of diverse populations for CBSD • B.A. in Communicative Disorders, West Chester University of PA • M.A. in Communicative Disorders/Speech Pathology, West Chester University of PA • Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from ASHA

4. Times are changing…

5. Today You Will… • Walk away with a plethora of non-traditional strategies for supporting secondary students with Autism in generalizing learned age-appropriate social skills to their home and community lives by utilizing various forms of technology; • ipods/ipads • flip video cameras • Smart Boards • internet social networking

6. What might an AS student’s social skills look like? • No desire to interact (shy) • Doesn’t know how to interact (abrupt, inappropriate) • Not flexible to changes in routine (hostile) • No personal space awareness (grabby, too close) • Poor to no eye contact or facial expressions (weird) • Difficulty interpreting non-verbal cues (dumb) • Struggles to maintain a “give & take” conversation (rude)

7. What might an AS student’s social skills look like?Continued… • Sensitivity to lights, sounds, foods, touch, etc. • Few but dominative interests (age appropriate?) • May talk only about their own interests (1-sided) • Anxiety (interacting w/peers) • Low self-esteem, sits/works by self • Minimal initiation of conversation • Awkward/uncomfortable • Eager to please • Trouble sharing, taking turns, or consenting to group choice

8. Social Skills Philosophy • Students diagnosed on the autistic spectrum, (ASD), present unique challenges with social interaction, language, social cognition, and behavior. To best meet the needs of our students a strong social skills program is a key component in all AS classrooms. For the AS classroom, social goals are as important as academic and life skill goals.

9. The model components of a strong social skills curriculum are: (Presented by James Loomis Ph.D.) • Assessment • Use of social skills continuum and progress monitoring • Skill teaching, direct instruction in small group or 1:1 includes: • Verbal explanation • Demonstration • Role playing/practice • Scripts/social stories • High structured practice opportunities • Done in a safe environment • Direct adult coaching, adults regulate interaction • Supportive feedback • Clear expectation • Low structured practice opportunities • Structured social setting • Less adult regulation • Coaching before and after/ prompting during • Application to the natural setting; generalization • Application of skill • Coaching before and after • Opportunities for flexibility and reflection

10. Social Skills Continuum Scale • Self- Regulation • Focus, task persistence, impulse control, sensory input, stress management • Knowledge of Conventions • Routine, transition, rules • Social Interaction • Teasing, group choice, sharing, play, rule following • Social Motivation • Being social, self-advocacy, identify emotions in self • Communication • Body language, function, non-verbal, sentence length, topic maintenance, exchanges, initiate/join • Perspective Taking • Personal space, thoughts, identify emotions in others

11. Scope & Sequence Middle & HS Communication: • Communication appropriate to jargon, audience, topic, context • Voice tone, rate, and volume • Facial expressions • Body language • Conversations; initiating, engaging, staying on topic, ending Self Regulation: • Awareness and control of inappropriate behaviors; sensory, mannerisms • Focus and attention • Controlling impulses • Sensory overload • Responsibility for self and materials Social Information: • Awareness of social context in terms of sexual behavior, groups, appearance, and toxic situations • Awareness and handling teasing • Accepting change • Trying new things • Appropriate free time choice • Conceding, compromising to group choice • Accepting non-preferred task/activity • Transitions • Avoiding toxic situations • Taking turns • Working independently Perspective Taking: • Personal space • Identifying the need for and expressing empathy • Appropriate affection • Appropriate response to social situations; death, tragedy Social Motivation: • Appropriate greetings • Stress; identifying, strategies, verbalization and ability to move on • Self advocacy • Independence Knowledge of Conventions: • Anticipation and preparation of needed materials • Accepting change • Negative rituals • Manners

12. AS Technology • iPod Touches • iPads • Flip Video Cameras • Smart Boards *Internet Social Networks

13. iPod/iPad Apps • Educational App. Reviews & Suggestions: http://www.iear.org/iear/2010/7/4/ipadipod-touchiphone-apps-for-spedspecial-needs-by-david-lig.html • Google: Eric Sailers iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Apps for (Special) Education • iAcademy Website http://iacademy.wikispaces.com/Technology+Tools+Workshop+August+18%2C+2011

14. Recommended iPod & iPad Social Skills Applications • Conversation Starters- Small Talk • Use to help keep conversations going or get started! • Stories 2 Learn • Use to make your own social stories. • Going Places • Pre-made social stories for going out in the community. • Face Cards • Use to practice identifying emotions in self and others.

15. Recommended iPod & iPad Social Skills Applications Cont.’d • Functional Skills System • Everyday Social Skills • Walking, using a restroom, waiting in line, asking for directions, asking for help/information, joining a group • Responding Social Skills • Listen and respond, follow directions, understand feelings of others, handle criticism, respond to peer pressure, problem solving, deal w/angry person • Initiating Social Skills • Start conversations, greet, introduce self, ask for help, give directions, apologize, compliment, make a complaint • Personal Social Skills • Responsibility, dependability, accepting consequences, hygiene, telling the truth, being positive, self-control, being assertive • Manners • Meet/Greet people, help others, give/ask for help, being considerate, good behavior, table manners

16. Recommended iPod & iPadSocial Skills Applications Cont.’d • Everyday Skills • Community • Babershops, doors, fast food restaurants, fire dept, grocery stores, hardware stores, hotels, libraries, laundromats, restaurants, stairs/elevators, stores, farm, trip to the zoo • Personal • Expressions, going on a date, indoor/outdoor chores, preparing a meal, renting a movie, caring for pets, recycling/trash, visiting doctors • Transition and transportation • Getting ready for school, riding on a bus, starting school, library, lunchroom, signs, riding in a car, getting around town, traveling far, working

17. Recommended iPod & iPad Social Skills Applications Cont.’d • Functional Skills System-Social Sampler • Meeting/greeting people, taking responsibility, polite/courteous, joining others in groups, excuse self/apologize, follow directions, and handle criticism • iConversation Builder • Photos & prompts to have a conversation one-on-one or in a group, ability to record and play back full conversation • iTopics- Conversation Starters • Choose a category, provides many interesting questions to get/keep a conversation going • Conversation Starters App • General tips, in a street/park, at a party, at work, in a line, group of friends, guy to girl, and girl to guy (requires internet) • iWorking with Goldstein • Dealing with an accusation/group pressure/someone else, expressing affection, helping others, prepare for difficult times, keeping out of fights, responding to failure, making a complaint, understanding feelings of others

18. Recommended iPod & iPad Social Skills Applications Cont.’d • Quick Cues- Communication • Answering the phone, changing topics, listening, voice control, talking with co-workers, using the phone, etc. • Body Language Hints • Specific body language is described and possible meanings explained • Hidden Curriculum On the Go- Adult • An array of short social mini lessons/explanations for social situations, sayings, job applications, figurative language, etc. • Brain Teasers • A plethora of fun, conversation-starting, brain teasers that teens love! • The Social Express (Lite version available) • Create user profile, lessons, and printables. An interactive social story game/movie about teens out in a community being social.

19. Recommended iPod & iPad Social Skills Applications Cont.’d • Be Confident- Middle School Confidential • Comic book series following the journey of six teens learning important social skills. • Smurks • Goes beyond words to identify facial expressions in a cartoon. • Idioms • Visual and word descriptions explaining various idioms and the story behind them. • USA Slang • Provides short explanations of commonly used slang words! • Idea Stimulator • Provides creative ideas and details for trying new things or ways of thinking.

20. Recommended iPod & iPad Social Skills Applications Cont.’d • What would you do at school if… • Provides scenarios for starting conversations, especially in small groups. • All About You, All About Me • Provides prompts to encourage expressive language skills such as answering questions and giving opinions. • Practicing Pragmatics • Provides picture cards with social skills questions about politeness, problem solving, feelings, gaining/giving information, telephone skills, etc. • What are they thinking? • Provides photos with thought bubbles for students to practice inferencing, reasoning, and conversation skills. • How would you feel if…? • Provides picture cards to promote conversations about feelings and prompts to discuss their feelings about various situations.

21. Flip Video Cameras • Student Created Character Skits • Student Solved Social Scenarios • Role Plays • Social Stories • Observation & Reflection • Conversations & Critiques *All activities require parent written permission to videotape.

22. Smart Boards • Interactive Partner Activities • Interactive Group Activities • Social Skills Tools • Social Skills Games • Social Skills Lessons *Smart Boards allow students to not only interact with the technology, but also to interact with their peers.

23. Example of an interactive website for small group lesson/social interaction

24. Internet Social Networking • The purpose of utilizing internet social networking is to teach students appropriate online socialization etiquette, not only to promote friendships but for safety reasons. • Examples: • Ning* (Closed CB Network- www.socialrus.ning.com) • Facebook • Video Conferencing (Skype, Google Live Chat) • Parent Permission • Student Contracts

25. Internet Social Networking • Direct Instruction & Modeling in the Following Areas: • Digital footprints • What personal information to share with strangers • Slow conversations back & forth • Blogging • Posting pictures • Not meeting strangers in person • Sharing news • Privacy Settings

29. Children are immersed in technology at an early age; so for children with Autism, it is critical to teach them social skills that utilize that technology.

30. Reflections • Questions • Comments • Ideas

31. Thank you! “Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny. ~Anonymous