NAVIGATING COMMUNICATION & SOCIAL INTERACTIONS FOR STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM

ALL STAFF IN JUNIOR PRIMARY, PRIMARY, MIDDLE, SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

ALL STAFF IN EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS INCLUDING CHILD CARE, EARLY LEARNING CENTRES, KINDERGARTEN AND PRESCHOOL

PRESENTER - LIBERTY GATES, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, LIBERTY SPEECH PATHOLOGY

This workshop is intended for all school staff working with students or involved in planning, program or policy development for students on the Autism spectrum. The workshop will provide a brief introduction to Autism, followed by a comprehensive review of communication issues for kids and teens on the Autism Spectrum, including:

• Students who can’t communicate verbally
• Difficulties having a conversation
• Difficulties understanding another person’s perspective
• Over-sharing about their strong interest
• Difficulties with understanding and solving problems
• Difficulties understanding that their knowledge/thoughts/beliefs could be different from someone else’s knowledge/thoughts/beliefs
• Difficulties understanding hidden intents, such as ulterior motives and advertising
• Difficulties understanding figurative language.

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DIFFERENTIATION FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS...WHILE THRIVING AS AN EARLY CAREER TEACHER

EARLY CAREER TEACHERS (FIRST 3-5 YEARS) IN JUNIOR PRIMARY, PRIMARY, MIDDLE, SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SETTINGS (INCLUDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND TRTS)

PRESENTER - DR JANE JARVIS, SENIOR LECTURER IN EDUCATION, FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

This workshop is intended for classroom teachers working with academically diverse students, and is especially designed for teachers in their first five years of practice. Most early career teachers arrive at school keen to establish an inclusive classroom, however, it can be challenging to apply the theory in practice at a time when the curriculum still seems unfamiliar and classroom management practices are still developing. This workshop provides an opportunity to refresh your understanding of the key principles and practices of effective differentiation, with a particular focus on realistic ways to get started with inclusive practices in the first few years of teaching, and build solid foundations for working towards more effective differentiation in the future. We will discuss teaching strategies that take relatively little preparation; critical areas of classroom practice that can support a differentiated approach; and how to set and evaluate reasonable goals for differentiation in the first few years of teaching. Participants will have a good chance to share and reflect on their experiences of differentiation in a collegial atmosphere.

Learning outcomes for this workshop include:

• Review the key, evidence-based principles that form the foundation for effective differentiation
• Identify a small number of ‘go to’ strategies for differentiation that can apply across settings
• Consider classroom management strategies that can facilitate effective differentiation
• Share and reflect on your experiences of differentiation so far, and set achievable goals for professional growth
• Add new differentiation strategies to your teaching repertoire.

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EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION: ENCOURAGING SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR THOSE WITH A DISABILITY

ALL STAFF IN MAINSTREAM OR SPECIAL EDUCATION WHO WORK WITH STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS

PRESENTER - DR JUNE ALEXANDER, LECTURER BACHELOR OF DISABILITY & DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION - DISABILITY & COMMUNITY INCLUSION
COLLEGE OF NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCE - CARING FUTURES INSTITUTE - FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

This workshop is intended for all staff who work in mainstream or special education who want to ensure that they are teaching students with disabilities in effective ways. While we often focus a lot on the ‘what’ we teach (i.e. content) we have less formalised understanding of the ‘how’ we teach. Instructional skills covered in this workshop will include:

• Prompts
• Shaping
• Emotional Regulation
• Choice making
• Self-instruction.

Learning outcomes for this workshop include:

• Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of various cognitive strategies Apply various methods for promoting independence of individuals with diverse abilities
• Have knowledge and recognise a variety of instructional procedures which are appropriate for different outcomes
• Revise and self-reflect on current teaching methods and how those presented in the workshop may be implemented.

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WHERE DOES LEARNING GO WRONG FOR STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS

ALL SCHOOL STAFF WORKSHOP - MAINSTREAM AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ALL AGES - SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOP - NORTHERN VENUE

PRESENTER - KYMBERLY LOUISE, BEHAVIOURAL SCIENTIST

This workshop will expose staff to understandings from psychology, neuroscience, disability, and education research to support their knowledge of the difficulties in learning experienced by students with additional learning needs. There are a range of developmental difficulties commonly experienced by students with Autism, ADD/HD, Dyslexia, Sensory Processing Disorder including Auditory Processing Disorder, and those from trauma backgrounds that directly affect learning and behaviour, but can be supported through specific strategies.

Participants will:

• Understand the range of common developmental difficulties associated with many learning difficulties including issues with executive function, sensory processing, and working and long term memory.
• Work toward strategies suitable for their site and their practice to support students with additional learning needs
• Be exposed to tools and resources to support them in adapting their practice to better support their students toward learning and behavioural outcomes.

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