Webinar 18: Empowering Young Children and Families through Active Learning

Contents

Active learning is an educational philosophy based on the work of Dr Lilli Nielsen that places an emphasis on modifying the educational environment in order to encourage independent exploration. The course focused on the principles of active learning, why children need to be active participants encouraged to engage in learning opportunities, and why it is so critical in developing a variety of skills for all children. The course will also include a review of some developmental areas and specific learning opportunities while using common household materials to create active learning materials. A variety of activities were shared with the audience that can be adapted to meet learners of all ages, needs, and interests.

Target Audience

Teachers of Visually Impaired learners (QTVIs), teachers in special schools, and Third sector workers.

Presenters

Sara Edwards, Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI), Developmental Therapist/Vision (DTV), and an evaluator in the Illinois Early Intervention program.

Sara has worked for the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) in the Birth to Three program since 2011. She graduated from the Special Education - Low Vision and Blindness undergraduate program and from the Special Education Masters program at Illinois State University (ISU). Besides working full time at ISVI, she is also an instructor in ISU's Limitless program which helps current TVIs obtain their credential in the Early Intervention program. She enjoys being able to reach out to families in Early Intervention and share her experiences of raising two children with visual impairments.

Julia Bowman, Birth to Three Teacher (DTV) at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.

Julia received her Master's degree in Teaching Students with Visual Impairments from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, where she was named a Zermas Scholar. A former chemist, she was inspired by her experience as a parent in the Perkins School for the Blind Infant-Toddler Program, and decided to become a TVI/DTV. She was fortunate to be mentored by Ellen Mazel, who is the Cortical Visual Impairment Advisor at Perkins. After graduation, Julia taught for the Carroll Center in Newton, MA before moving to Illinois and joining the staff at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, where she currently works as a Birth to Three Teacher (DTV). As the mother of a child with multiple disabilities and multiple visual impairments, Julia appreciates the challenges that families face during the early childhood years.

• Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI): Birth to 3 program
• ISVI Calendar of Events

Elizabeth McCann, QTVI and VI CPD Coordinator, Scottish Sensory Centre.