Lynch School of Education

Abstracts from Teaching Exceptional Children (TEC)

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TITLE:
Developing Competence in Assistive Technology Implementation Through User Groups

VOLUME 40 ISSUE 2

AUTHOR(S):
Howard P. Parette
George R. Peterson-Karlan
Brian W. Wojcik
Emily H. Watts
Julia B. Stoner

DOCUMENT TYPE: Article

http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications2/TEACHINGExceptionalChildren/default.htm

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ABSTRACT:
Building capacity of education professionals to make effective assistive technology (AT) decisions requires varying supports within school districts. One effective approach that has been used in Central Illinois is to develop and maintain user groups. Comprised of skilled practitioners and those interested in developing new AT skill sets, user groups are led by an individual having advanced AT competencies. Three different types of user groups are noted, including ‘focused,’ ‘scaffolded,’ and ‘open-ended’ allowing for flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of group members. Key components of user groups include (a) identification of core members and leadership roles, (b) resource commitments, (c) conducting meetings, and (d) outcomes monitoring. Key questions that must be considered are presented, along with sample agenda for successful user groups that have been conducted with education professionals.