The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center offers high-quality training courses with a focus on integratinglow and high-tech assistive technology into
classroom activities. Learning opportunities include:
* Using low and high tech to support diverse learners
* Low and high tech ideas for adapting activities
* Strategies for helping students use technology as a curriculum tool
* Curriculum Development and Integration Strategies
Training courses are designed for teachers, therapists, instructional support staff, and parents. All training is interactive and hands-on.
With a minimum enrollment, any class can be brought to your school for a half-day or whole day training. Periodically, throughout the school year, we will schedule training opportunities at local schools or Allegany College of Maryland. We welcome your ideas for additional training workshops.
For more information please email training@ectac.net
Current offerings:
Introduction to BoardMaker
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson)
Using pictures to communicate can be a very powerful tool! Learn how to use Boardmaker, a graphic software program containing over 3,000 Picture Communication Symbols. Come design a low tech picture communication aid, visual schedules, adapted books....the choices are endless! Creative use of picture displays to support student participation in the general curriculum will be demonstrated with special emphasis on Maryland content standards.
Using Picture Supports To Help Students Understand And Particpate In The Daily Routine: Make It Take It Using BoardMaker
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson) (participants should be familiar with using BoardMaker or take Intro to BoardMaker first)
Using picture symbols can help all students more fully understand and participate in the classroom. This session is based on research which suggests that “using visual symbols supports a student’s attempts to understand and integrate information which leads to greater comprehension and participation, and ultimately to more effective communication”. These strategies can be used effectively with students who have a wide range of disabilities including communication impairments, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, and multiple disabilities. Come and create various picture-based tools including picture schedules, task organizers, visual bridges between home and school, and classroom management strategies using Boardmaker software. Ideas for curriculum adaptations related to Maryland academic content standards will be discussed and demonstrated.
Supports for Visual Learners
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson), SymWriter (Widget / Mayer-Johnson)
Build on the strength of visual learning styles with the use of symbol-based curriculum activities. In this hands-on lab, you will learn new ways to use BoardMaker picture symbols and other graphics to create picture-based lessons and classroom activities.
Introduction to Multimedia and Authoring Tools for Early Childhood Learning
Tools: Classroom Suite: IntelliPics Studio (IntelliTools), IntelliTalk II (IntelliTools), IntelliMathics (IntelliTools)
Learn how to use the multimedia-authoring tools: IntelliPics Studio, IntelliTalk, and IntelliMathics embedded in Classroom Suite to create engaging and interactive activities to support early literacy and mathematics learning objectives and communication skills. Integrate multimedia into project-based learning and standards-based activities that are developmentally appropriate, aligned to your curriculum media and materials and accessible to all students.
Look Who's Reading: A Preschool Make and Take
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson) (participants should be familiar with using BoardMaker or take Intro to BoardMaker first)
Come learn about ways to encourage and support literacy with young children. Make reading fun for you and your students through the use of home made books, props, and song boards. There will be a brief introduction to the topic as well as hands-on make and take activities.
Creating Clickable PowerPoint Activities
Tools: Powerpoint (Microsoft)
Manypublic schools have PowerPoint on classroom and lab computers. There is a vast array of activities that can benefit a wide variety of students. You can easily create or use pre-made clickable switch activities, talking books, and other fun, motivating lessons. While you need PowerPoint to create activities, you don’t need to have PowerPoint to use the pre-made activities. You can use the free PowerPoint player to play these activities on any computer. Participants will see a wide variety of activities and create their own talking book.
Got Books?
Tools: none
In this workshop , participants will gain an understanding of how best literacy and math practices can be adapted for children with disabilities. These practices can be done in the home, school, and community in order to increase children's literacy-related behaviors, interests, and skills.
In addition to print books, we’ll tour some “child friendly” websites to use with children to reinforce the math and literacy concepts we share.
* Using low and high tech to support diverse learners
* Low and high tech ideas for adapting activities
* Strategies for helping students use technology as a curriculum tool
* Curriculum Development and Integration Strategies
Training courses are designed for teachers, therapists, instructional support staff, and parents. All training is interactive and hands-on.
With a minimum enrollment, any class can be brought to your school for a half-day or whole day training. Periodically, throughout the school year, we will schedule training opportunities at local schools or Allegany College of Maryland. We welcome your ideas for additional training workshops.
For more information please email training@ectac.net
Current offerings:
Introduction to BoardMaker
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson)
Using pictures to communicate can be a very powerful tool! Learn how to use Boardmaker, a graphic software program containing over 3,000 Picture Communication Symbols. Come design a low tech picture communication aid, visual schedules, adapted books....the choices are endless! Creative use of picture displays to support student participation in the general curriculum will be demonstrated with special emphasis on Maryland content standards.
Using Picture Supports To Help Students Understand And Particpate In The Daily Routine: Make It Take It Using BoardMaker
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson) (participants should be familiar with using BoardMaker or take Intro to BoardMaker first)
Using picture symbols can help all students more fully understand and participate in the classroom. This session is based on research which suggests that “using visual symbols supports a student’s attempts to understand and integrate information which leads to greater comprehension and participation, and ultimately to more effective communication”. These strategies can be used effectively with students who have a wide range of disabilities including communication impairments, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, and multiple disabilities. Come and create various picture-based tools including picture schedules, task organizers, visual bridges between home and school, and classroom management strategies using Boardmaker software. Ideas for curriculum adaptations related to Maryland academic content standards will be discussed and demonstrated.
Supports for Visual Learners
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson), SymWriter (Widget / Mayer-Johnson)
Build on the strength of visual learning styles with the use of symbol-based curriculum activities. In this hands-on lab, you will learn new ways to use BoardMaker picture symbols and other graphics to create picture-based lessons and classroom activities.
Introduction to Multimedia and Authoring Tools for Early Childhood Learning
Tools: Classroom Suite: IntelliPics Studio (IntelliTools), IntelliTalk II (IntelliTools), IntelliMathics (IntelliTools)
Learn how to use the multimedia-authoring tools: IntelliPics Studio, IntelliTalk, and IntelliMathics embedded in Classroom Suite to create engaging and interactive activities to support early literacy and mathematics learning objectives and communication skills. Integrate multimedia into project-based learning and standards-based activities that are developmentally appropriate, aligned to your curriculum media and materials and accessible to all students.
Look Who's Reading: A Preschool Make and Take
Tools: BoardMaker (Mayer-Johnson) (participants should be familiar with using BoardMaker or take Intro to BoardMaker first)
Come learn about ways to encourage and support literacy with young children. Make reading fun for you and your students through the use of home made books, props, and song boards. There will be a brief introduction to the topic as well as hands-on make and take activities.
Creating Clickable PowerPoint Activities
Tools: Powerpoint (Microsoft)
Manypublic schools have PowerPoint on classroom and lab computers. There is a vast array of activities that can benefit a wide variety of students. You can easily create or use pre-made clickable switch activities, talking books, and other fun, motivating lessons. While you need PowerPoint to create activities, you don’t need to have PowerPoint to use the pre-made activities. You can use the free PowerPoint player to play these activities on any computer. Participants will see a wide variety of activities and create their own talking book.
Got Books?
Tools: none
In this workshop , participants will gain an understanding of how best literacy and math practices can be adapted for children with disabilities. These practices can be done in the home, school, and community in order to increase children's literacy-related behaviors, interests, and skills.
In addition to print books, we’ll tour some “child friendly” websites to use with children to reinforce the math and literacy concepts we share.
In-Person Training
ECTAC Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center