Active Learning Presentation By: Diane Powell and Lori Enroth LilliWorks Active Learning Foundation www.lilliworks.org Developed by Dr. Lilli Nielsen for learners of all ages with significant disabilities who have a developmental age of 4 years or under. As the name implies, Active Learning revolves around the learner being active. The Essential Active Learning Principal: To create environments that give feedback & support to the learner, so the learner can take action on their own initiative to learn.

Active Learning Developed by Dr. Lilli Nielsen, of Denmark. Dr. Nielsen had nearly 50 years of experience with vision and multiple disabilities. She authored 9 books, 20 articles in professional journals, developed a countless variety of perceptual aids, and held over 200 trainings throughout the world. Considered the top expert and in education of children with multiple disabilities. She was a teacher and psychologist, her PhD was on spatial relations of congenitally blind infants.

The Active Learning Approach EVERYONE CAN LEARN! Children learn by exploration and repetition We are not prepared neurologically to learn through direct teaching until 4-5 years Hands Off – let them have control of their own hands! Hand over hand takes away kinaesthetic & tactile concept development Hand over hand reduces the sensory information received by the body making concept development impossible Observe – watch them play, don’t interrupt To Learn the child must have their own successes

One On One Learning

Active Learning – Play! Let the child play! Provide learning environments for the child at their developmental level Let the child explore on their own in that environment Don’t interrupt (even with praise) - Let the child share their experiences and enthusiasm with the adults instead. Let the child experiment, repeat and fail within the safe environment you have provided for them. Learning builds their knowledge and their confidence Let them find their own “right way” to do things and become more independent. The adult is to provide favorable conditions, choices, patience, safety and increased and updated challenges that simulate the child at the right developmental and emotional level.

Exploring Around the Classroom Large Position Board Textures on Wall

Dynamic Learning Circle The ACTIVE LEARNING APPROACH Dr. Lilli Nielsen, R. LICAL, Lilli's Consultancy for ACTIVE LEARNING, Kolding, Denmark. Dynamic Learning Circle Awareness And Interest Curiosity And Activity Readiness For new Challenges Completion of Learning or Habituation

Five Phases of Learning Phase 1------ The Technique of Offering Phase 2 ----- The Technique of Imitation Phase 3 ---- The Technique of Interaction Phase 4 ---- The Technique of Sharing Phase 5 -- The Technique of Consequence

Stopping Self Abusive Behaviors

Active Learning – Observation Observe and Assess developmental level – Functional Scheme Assessment Strengths: existing skills, abilities, repertoire, preferences Weaknesses: vision loss, other disabilities, compensating mechanisms How do they explore: by seeing, touching, listening, tasting, smelling Do they repeat – on their own (without coaching) The Functional Scheme: Functional Skills Assessment (0-48 months) • Gross Movement • Fine Movement • Mouth Movement • Visual Perception • Auditory Perception • Haptic-tactile Perception • Smell and Taste • Language non-verbal, verbal, comprehension • Object Perception • Social Perception • Emotional Perception • Play and Activities • Toileting Skills • Undressing & Dressing Skills • Personal Hygiene • Eating Skills

Resonance Board Goal Goal Objectives Will lie on his back on a board one inch above the ground with a vibrating object in the hand and have objects for making and comparing sounds within reach, will interact with his environment for 30 minutes for 4 out of 5 consecutive trial days. Objectives Will lie on his back on a board one inch above the ground with a vibrating object in the hand and have objects for making and comparing sounds within reach, will interact with his environment for 10 minutes for 4 out of 5 consecutive trial days. Will lie on his back on a board one inch above the ground with a vibrating object in the hand and have objects for making and comparing sounds within reach, will interact with his environment for 20 minutes for 4 out of 5 consecutive trial days.

Data Collection

Active Learning Specialized Equipment Little Room Support Bench HOPSA Dress Position Boards Resonance Boards ESSEF Board MFA Table

Books by: Dr. Lilli Nielsen References Books by: Dr. Lilli Nielsen Space and Self Spatial Relations in Congenitally Blind Infants Are You  Blind? Educational Approaches Visual Impairment - Understanding Needs of Young Children The Comprehending Hand Early Learning Step By Step Functional Scheme: Functional Skills Assessment The FIELA Curriculum - 730 Learning Environments www.LilliWorks.org

Active Learning LilliWorks Active Learning Foundation California 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation 2517 Blanding Ave., Suite 110, Alameda, CA 94501 Phone: (510) 814-9111, Fax: (510) 814-3941 www.lilliworks.org Penrickton Center for the Blind: www.penricton.com AL Live-In Facility in Michigan (American experts in AL) Texas School For the Blind: www.tsbvi.edu AL classrooms throughout Texas (Research articles online) Narbethong State Special School: www.Narbethongspecs.eq.edu.au All AL School in Australia (Vodcasts & AL ideas/pictures online)