Description of graphical content is included between Description Start and Description End. Transcript Start [ Slide start: ] Content audio described Audio Description: A slide reads, What is Active Learning? Five Key points. At the bottom are logos for Penrickton Center for Blind Children, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Perkins School for the Blind. [ Slide start: ] Content audio described Presented by Patty Obrzut, M.S., O.T.R. Assistant Director Penrickton Center for Blind Children. [ Slide end: ] Patty Obrzut, Assistant Director Penrickton Center for Blind Children, is seated at a table in a studio. Six ping pong balls are on the table. Patty Obrzut: Hello, today I'd like to introduce you to the concept of Active Learning. Most people say, "What is Active Learning?" And really, it's providing developmentally appropriate activities for children, so that they can learn new skills. Especially for children with special needs, it's about providing an environment so that they can an 'active' participant. So, how do you do that? What I- what I'd like you all to do at home is become a participant in this activity. So, I'd like you to pause the video for a second, and go around your house and see if you can find four items that you can catch. So, for example, I have ping pong balls. So, you might get tennis balls or ping pong balls. So, I'll give you a second to go do that while you pause the video. Now that you're back, and you have your balls or the items that you're going to throw, I'm going to ask you to do an activity, which is juggling. So, pick up one of the items that you have and try to throw it and catch it in the air. Audio Description: Patty demonstrates throwing one ball and catching it with her other hand. Patty Obrzut: So hopefully you were successful at that. So, now I want you pick up a second of the items that you got-- I'll pick up my second ping pong ball-- and try to juggle two of the items. Audio Description: Patty holds a ball in each hand, juggling the balls from one hand to the other. Patty Obrzut: So, you're going to tell I'm not very good at this. But eventually, I can juggle two balls. So, now, let's make it a little harder, and grab three balls. And at this point, you're going to lose me, because... I have tried for years to juggle and I am not capable of juggling three balls. Audio Description: Patty juggles the three balls ackwardly. Patty Obrzut: But, if at home you can juggle three, then grab your fourth one-- and I'm going to invite you to try four, but there's no way you're going to get me to do four balls. So, now I have some questions for you about the activities. [ Slide start: ] Description Start: Content: Active Participation Description End: The first question is, were you an active or passive participant? [ Slide end: ] So, I'm betting at least fifty-percent of the people out there did not go and get the balls that I asked you to go get, and you did not participate in the activity. So, you were all passive participants. But let's say the other half of you actually did get the balls and try to juggle. You were 'active participants' in the activity, and that's the first key factor in Active Learning; is that the child needs to participate in the activity. So, remember I'm going to talk about five characteristics for Active Learning, and the first one is you have to be an active participant. So, now, let's talk about the second question. What would it take for you to be able to juggle all the balls you- you got, from you home-- let's say a month from now. What would you need to do so that you could juggle three balls? I'm guessing, most of you are going to say that you'd have to practice. So, now you've got the second point of Active Learning, [ Slide start: ] Description Start: Content: Repetition Description End: which is, you have to have repetition. So, it might take me a month, [ Slide end: ] or it could take me a year, to figure out how to juggle three balls. But remember, repetition is important, and it's going to vary from person to person. Some people can juggle three balls after a month, some two years, and other are like me, and I just can't seem to- to get the idea. Okay, now we're at the third part about Active Learning, which is-- let me ask you this question. What kind skills did you need to juggle the ball? What kind of developmental skills? So, the first thing is you had to be able to pick up a ball. You have to be able to grasp a ball. And you have to be able to throw a ball. You have to be able to use two hands. You might have to do midline activities. So, those are all developmental skills that you needed to complete this task. [ Slide start: ] Description Start: Content: Developmentally Appropriate Description End: I picked an activity that I hoped you would be able to succeed at home. [ Slide end: ] At least, catching one ball, or throwing two balls. I'm not sure I thought all of you could get to three balls. But I picked an activity that you had developmental skills, so that you succeed at. You could pick up a ball. You could throw a ball. And you can grasp a ball. If somebody out there can't grasp a ball, I just presented you with an activity that you weren't going to be able to succeed at. And Active Learning is all about understanding the developmental characteristics of a skill and understanding the developmental skills that someone has; and matching them and giving a child appropriate activities. So, now the fourth question. What would it take for you to want to juggle all on your own, without me asking you to do so? So, let's say I said, next week I would mail you a box of a hundred chocolate bars. Do you think you would do it, learn how to juggle, if I sent you those hundred chocolate bars? Some people out there-- I'm guessing about half of you, maybe 25 percent of you to 50 percent, might do it. The other half are saying, 'Nope, not worth it. I'm not going to do that.' I can tell you, for me, I actually do not like chocolate. So, giving me chocolate candy bars is not reinforcing, and I'm not going to want to juggle for that. However, money usually works for everybody! So, let's say I wanted to give you all a hundred dollars, if you were succeeding at juggling three... balls by, let's say, the end of next month. I'm guessing, again, about 50 percent of you will say, 'A hundred bucks is pretty good. I'll take you up on that offer.' And you would practice and maybe learn to juggle in that time frame. And others of you would say, 'Nope, not enough money.' So, let's raise the bar and say, five hundred. i'm guessing about 90 percent of you are saying, 'For five hundred dollars, I'll give it a try' So, now other people might do an activity just because they find it fun. And the reinforcing might be the challenge of, "Can I succeed at juggling those golf balls or tennis balls?' [ Slide start: ] Description Start: Content: Reinforcing for the Child Description End: So, remember, reinforcement is a key factor when doing Active Learning, but you need to know what the reinforcement is for each person. [ Slide end: ] Is it food? Is it... social activity? Is it money? Is it noise? Is it the tactile sensation? What is reinforcing to each person. [ Slide start: ] Description Start: Content: Reduced Distractions Description End: So, now lastly. Was there anything distracting you from being able to do the activity at home? [ Slide end: ] Let's say you're a parent and you have three... children at home, and they're running around screaming at you, saying, 'Hey, mom or dad, why are you juggling those balls?' That could be a distraction. You're answering their questions, instead of trying to juggle. For me, I'm sitting here, I've got lights shining on me, I have cameras shining on me; and it's a little bit stressful. And so it might prevent me from being able to concentrate on my activity. So, let's say you didn't have breakfast this morning, or let's say you didn't get enough sleep last night, or let's say there's somebody over, watching you trying to juggle the balls making fun of you. Those are all things that can be distractions in the environment. And Active Learning is all about preventing those distractions, as much as possible; eliminating things that can interrupt somebody's ability to do a task. So, remember with Active Learning there's Five Key Points. [ Slide start: ] Description Start: Title: Active Learning Involves Content: • Activity • Repetition • Devleopmental learning • Reinforcement • The limiting of interruptions Description End: The persons has to be active. There needs to be repetition. It has to be a person's developmental level. There needs to be some kind of reinforcement. And you need to limit the amount of interruptions in a person's environment. [ Slide start: ] Content audio described Audio Description: A slide reads: Active Learning Space. www.activelearningspace.org, September 2016. At the bottom are logos for Penrickton Center for Blind Children, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Perkins Learning. Fade to black.