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Presentation at CSUN conference
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Creating University/High School Connections Using Assistive
Technology for Students with Learning and Attention Challenges
Presenters
Mary Beth Foster & Rose WilhiteStrategic Learning Specialists Co-coordinators - SALT High School ConnectionUniversity of Arizona, SALT Center
Mary Hinson Faculty Univ. of Arizona, Special EducationConsultant, Curricular AccessFounder SALT High School Connection
Creating University/High School Connections for At-
Risk StudentsProgram Title: SALT High School Connection Program Objective: to prepare high school students for higher education through a partnership between a university and a high schoolPartners: the Univ. of Arizona SALT Center & Catalina H.S.
SALT (Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques), a university department providing learning support to students with learning and attention challenges
Catalina High School - an inner-city school with a high minority population, high failure and dropout rate
and a large special education population
SALT- Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques
- Established in 1980 - Offers support to students with learning & attention challenges - Currently provides services to over 550 students- SALT First Year Retention Rate = 90% vs. university wide rate of 77% - SALT Graduation Rate - 80% over five yrs vs. University wide rate of 57% over six years
SALT’s Features
Learning Specialists Writer’s Lab Workshops on Learning Skills Tutoring Assistive Technology Counseling
History of SALT High School Connection
Fall 2005 - Mary Hinson (Special Education teacher and job developer at Catalina High School in Tucson) approached the SALT Center with a vision to replicate the same support services with Special Education students at Catalina
Goals: To decrease a high failure rate To improve students’ use of study skills &
resources To encourage college as a post-secondary option
Failure Data 2005Catalina High School
9th graders - 68% failing 1 or more classes
10th graders - 48% failing 1 or more classes
11th graders - 52% failing 1 or more classes
12th graders - 21% failing 1 or more classes
Students Who Were Recruited 1st Year Had 1 or More of the Following Characteristics
Failing 3 or more classes Students who were ditching class
regularly Had a processing deficit in either or
reading or writing or both areas Were seniors who would benefit from
this technology
SALT High School Connection Program Offerings
Teacher In-Service: Teacher training in universal design strategies, attended by special education & general education teachers
Study Skills/ English Resource Class- SALT staff Presentations w/student mentoring: - Learning strategies- Organizational skills
Assistive Technology Training Shadow Days & SALT Tours
Assistive Technology ProgramsSoftware programs purchased through
educational awards: ing “Unsung Heroes Award” & “Kurzweil Teaching Excellence Award”
Kurzweil -- a text to speech software program Dragon Naturally Speaking -- a voice
recognition typing program Inspiration– a software tool for visual mapping
and organization
Student Evaluations of Program
Video assessmentStudents in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach,
& KevinSALT VISIT - Video Clip 1 What did the SALT Center do to assist
students at your school? Which events did you participate in? Study skills class? SALT tour? U of A SALT Shadow Day?
Which assistive technology programs have you used? How has this technology benefited you in your studies?
Assistive Technology for Reading
Kurzweil Reads text aloud (digital format or
scanned text) Dictionary & highlighting tools Study Notes Features Writing & Editing Features Implemented as an accommodation
on AIMS
Assistive Technology for Mind Mapping
Inspiration Provides visual organization Brainstorm feature Webbing Templates – for educators & students Converts web organization to outline
Dragon Naturally Speaking 9Speech Recognition Software
Talk n Type program Little training time Highly accurate Quick – up to 160 words per min.
Uses Brainstorming Writing Papers Writing emails & instant messages
SALT Presentations with Student Mentoring
College & SALT information sessions Classroom Presentations
- SALT Staff - Student mentors- Learning & Organization Strategies
Topics Presented
Reading Math strategies Essay writing Note-taking Test preparation Test taking Decision making &
Goal setting
Stress management Time management Organization Learning styles Using assistive
technology Admissions
procedures College transition
Student Evaluations of ProgramVideo assessment
Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin
Strategy Topics – Video Clip 2 Take a look at the list of topics presented by
SALT. SALT staff & students talked to you about strategies in reading, writing, test taking, math, avoiding procrastination, and time management. Which of these were the most helpful or relevant to your studies? Tell us how you have used one of these skills in your classes.
What would be a topic that you would like to know more about? Why?
Sample Topic from Time Management & Test Preparation
Study Plans
Breaking assignments & studying into chunks
Making studying intentional Planning with month or Semester
Calendars
Student Evaluations of ProgramVideo assessment
Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin
AIMS Improvements – Video Clip 3
Have you seen any improvements in your grades or AIMS test scores? If so, what do you think has helped the most?
AIMS Gains Points Gain Rdg./ Score Points Gain Writing/
Score 1. +216 (448-664) +253 (413-666) (Falls FB-Approaches) (Approaches-Approaches)
2. +61 (623-684) +39 (615-664) (Falls Far Below-Meets) (Approaches-Approaches) 3. +170 (483-653) +116 (510-626) (Approaches-Approaches) (meets-Approaches) (3rd grade-10th grade scores) (3rd grade-10th grade
scores)
4. +131 (507-638) +112 (588-700) (Meets-Approaches) (meets-meets)
5. +204 (457-661) +110 (532-642) (Approaches-Approaches) (Meets-Approaches)
Points Gain Rdg./ Score Points Gain Writing/ Score
6. -1 (631-630) +56 (591-647) (Approaches-Approaches) (Falls FB-
Approaches)
7. +42 (642-684) +58 (642-700) (Approaches-Meets) (Approaches-Meets)
8. +283 (381-664) +253 (427-680) (Falls FB-Approaches) (Approaches-Meets)
9. +210 (465-675) +196 (499-695) (Approaches-Meets) (Approaches-Meets)
10. +289 (402-691) +259 (358-617) (Falls FB-Meets) (Falls FB-Meets)
11. +14 (669-683) +25 (675-700) (Approaches-Meets) (Approaches-Meets)
College Preparation
Info. Sessions: SALT & UA admission procedures
SALT Tours SALT Shadow Days
3 hosted, 1 per semesterHigh school students paired with SALT studentsAttended 2 U of A classesFollowed by a discussion of the differences between college & high school
Student Evaluations of ProgramVideo assessment
Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin
College Bound – Video Clip 4 What did you think college was like before
SALT started visiting your school? Before this year, did you see yourself ever becoming a college student? Had you made any plans for college?
At this point, do you have any plans for going to college? Has this changed since the beginning of the year? What details about college life and academics have you learned from your experiences with SALT?
Student Success Stories 15 students participated in at least 1
component of program during ‘05 – ‘06 23 students participated in at least 1
component of program during ‘06 – ‘07 5 seniors in program during 2005 –
2006 All graduated on time All went on to pursue post-secondary
education
Student Successes
Significant decrease in absences Tremendous improvement in
academic many students went from failing multiple classes to passing all classes
Many students made the Honor Roll Increase in self-esteem/ decrease in
frustration
Future of SALT High School Connection
Program ongoing at Catalina High School
Shadow Days Staff Presentations with mentors Tours
Making the Connection
Questions Comments Ideas for creating similar programs in
your community