March 2010 Report
FNESC (First Nations Education Steering Committee), FNSA (First Nations Schools Association) and SET-BC (Special Education Technology - British Columbia) collaborated for a third year to provide technology and support for students in BC First Nations schools. This report outlines the services that were provided by SET-BC up until March 15, 2010.
Students Participating in the Pilot 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. Nineteen students were identified to receive equipment in two service cycles.
In our first cycle, 12 students were selected by the screening committee. The SET-BC consultant met with school teams for these students in the fall.
- Schools: Brentwood Bay, Duncan, Port Alberni, Bella Coola, Gitwangak, Fort St. James, Savona, Cawston, Agassiz, Ahousaht and Duncan
- Age/grade: from 5 to 13 years, from kindergarten to grade 8
- Disabilities: Students have various challenges, including autism, Down syndrome, developmental delay, communication disorder, language development delay, visual disability, and fine motor difficulties.
In our second cycle, we identified 7 more students for service. Equipment has been delivered to these students and training is currently taking place.
- Schools: Port Hardy, Bella Bella, Merritt, Fort St. James, Quesnel, Alexis Creek, and Fort Ware
- Disabilities: Students have various challenges, including autism, moderate to severe cognitive delay, and fine motor difficulties.
We continued to support 36 students who received equipment in the previous school years.
Five 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 provincial program will now support them. Two students 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.
Equipment Provided During this School Year
Please see the attached document, ‘Assistive Technology Equipment Descriptions’ for more detailed information on the following technologies that have been requested for student’s use.
- Computers:
- 7 desktop computers
- 3 laptop computers
- 1 Netbook
- Specialized devices:
- 1 dynamic display communication device
- 1 TechTalk communication device
- 1 HipTalk communication device
- 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
- 5 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!
- Teaching Access Ability: teaches mouse and motor skills for other access methods
- Balanced Literacy: accessible program to support reading and writing in primary grades
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 Fort Saint John, Kluskus, Alexis Creek, and Iskut.
- 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
- Some training sessions have taken place for First Nations language and culture teachers to explore how use of computers and software can be used for language instruction
Comments on the Project to Date
The third 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 are sent from SET-BC 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.
At the end of the last school year, comments from returned Service Review Forms indicated that teams were happy with school visits and training. Most teams commented that they would like more training and more time to implement their technology. A greater percent found implementation successful than the previous year. Those who reported minimal success cited challenges with student attendance, changes in school team that support their students, and the need for more time to implement. Many teams felt that their students were becoming more independent in their use of technology to support their learning.
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.
At this point, FNESC and SET-BC are discussing collaboration options and approaches that will allow us to continue to support students with disabilities in BC’s First Nations schools. We hope to support the transition from a pilot project to an ongoing service delivery plan that will provide effective technology tools and support for our students.
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 March 30, 2010
Carol Graham, SET-BC Assistive Technology Consultant
Joe Cash, SET-BC Provincial Consultant
Elaine Ferguson, SET-BC Provincial Coordinator