2010-2011 Reports
April 2011
FNESC (First Nations Education Steering Committee), FNSA (First Nations Schools Association) and SET-BC (Special Education Technology - British Columbia) collaborated for a fourth year to provide technology and support for students in BC First Nations schools. This report outlines the services that were provided until April 1, 2011.
Students Participating in the Project
A screening committee consisting of representatives from FNESC’s Special Education Department and SET-BC reviewed the requests and prioritized students to receive equipment and support. Eleven students were identified to receive equipment in two service cycles.
In the first cycle, 9 students were selected by the screening committee. The FNESC consultant met with school teams for these students in the fall.
- Schools: Acwsalcta School, Chalo School, Ditidaht Community School, Eliza Archie Memorial School, Haahuupayak School, Kuper Island School, Seabird Island Community School, Tl’etinqox School, Yaqan Nuki School and Xitolacw Community School.
- Age/grade: from 8 to 11 years.
- Disabilities: Students have various challenges, including autism, developmental delay, language development delay, visual disability, and fine motor difficulties.
In our second cycle, we identified 2 additional students for service. Equipment has been delivered to these students and training is currently taking place.
- Schools: Gwa'Sala'Nakwaxda'xw School, and Xwem'elch'stn Etsimxwawtxw School
- Age/grade: from 6 to 11 years.
Disabilities: Students have various challenges, moderate to severe cognitive delay, communication disorder, and fine motor difficulties.
We continued to support 40 students who received equipment in the previous school years. Several students who received equipment last year through this project have transferred to schools in the public school system. The equipment they received has followed them to their new schools and the SET-BC regional programs will now support them. One student who received SET-BC technology when attending public schools transferred into the program this year, bringing their equipment with them to their new First Nations schools. One student transferred to a school in the public school system prior to receiving allocated services and the points have been returned to the program.
Equipment Provided During this School Year
The following technologies were requested for students' use.
- Computers:
- 8 laptop computers
- 1 iPad
- Specialized hardware for computer access:
- Alternate keyboards
- Alternate mice
- Trackball
- Software:
- All students who received computers also received specialized software to support writing and reading
- 2 students received specialized software that is being used on computers provided in their own schools
- Specialized software:
- Scan and read: Kurzweil 3000
- Talking word processors with picture support: Clicker 5, Classroom Suite 4
- Clicker Paint: accessible drawing program to accompany Clicker 5
- Word prediction: Co:Writer
- Communication software: Boardmaker Plus!
- Balanced Literacy: accessible program to support reading and writing in primary grades
- Dragon Naturally Speaking: voice input program
- Proloquo2Go: communication application for the iPad
Training
Training is arranged to take place as the equipment arrives in the schools. Various training opportunities are available for teams in this project:
- Within First Nations schools – one to one, small group sessions and/or larger school workshops
- Every team that has received equipment has had training opportunities
- SET-BC regional consultants have assisted in training for students and their teams in Bella Coola.
- Online – individuals and/or small group sessions
- Some Collaborative Action Plan meetings took place online, initiating discussions and planning for the implementation of assistive technology for students
- Some teams in remote locations have received training through online sessions
- Some equipment trouble-shooting and implementation collaboration has occurred through online sessions
- Many larger-group training sessions for Clicker 5 and Boardmaker have taken place for general staff training
- SET-BC regional workshops in BC provincial schools – larger group sessions, when available in area
- School teams have been contacted by SET-BC regional staff to invite them to regional training opportunities
- SET-BC online training that is available to all schools in BC for software training has been attended by some staff of First Nations schools
Comments on the Project to Date
The fourth year of this project has been very successful. Growing interest and expertise is evident across the province as more students and their support teams acquire technology to support special needs. School teams are taking the initiative to advocate for their students' needs.
In some schools, educators are recognizing the value of technology for students who need learning support, but do not qualify under the mandate of the project. For example, schools now have the opportunity to purchase Kurzweil 3000 through the FNESC Special Education department. This year, many schools are implementing Kurzweil to support intermediate and secondary students who struggle with reading and writing.
School administrators continue to support the project through their personal involvement in implementation and the provision of release time for teachers and teaching assistants for training. They also support the acquisition of equipment not provided by the project, for example, printers, scanners, cameras, and internet access. As students become successful with integration of technology into their daily programs, it becomes increasingly necessary to provide dedicated time for teachers and teaching assistants to plan and create materials, especially for those students who require customized activities for their individualized programs and meaningful, current communication boards.
School-based technical staff has also been supportive, assisting when they can with setting up internet connections and access to school networks, printers, and educational software. Knowledge about specific hardware and software for these individuals is growing, as well.
Service Review Forms will be sent near the end of the school year to track implementation and support needs. A designated member of the team receives and reports information on behalf of all team members.
Applications for service have increased significantly; we have many more new applications for equipment than we can provide service for with the funding allocated for this project. Our screening committee is finding it challenging to prioritize students with the most need and with the most urgency.
The FNESC Special Education Team has been exceptionally supportive as a partner in this project. The expertise and experience of Curtis Mallet, the teachers and speech-language pathologists have contributed much to quality of service provided.
It is, once again, a pleasure and an honour to participate in this very exciting project and we thank you for the opportunity.
Respectfully submitted
Shel Harris, FNESC Assistive Technology Consultant