Turning Picture Books into Sensory Stories

Course evaluation summary

Number of Participants: 198
Number of Respondents: 24

Overall Assessment:

What was best about the session?

Story book ideas.
Enthusiasm of presenter. Getting new ideas.
Great enthusiasm, encouraging in how to change sensory stories for teens.
Examples of stories and ideas to bring them to life as sensory stories.
Lots of new ideas and sharing of practice.
Lots of simple, easy to follow steps to make immediate changes to the way a story can be shared in class. Many nuggets of useful information passed along.
Gaining extra knowledge.
Ideas.
Lots of great ideas.
Sharing different ideas of how to create a sensory story and resources.
The idea that you don’t have to use the whole story but could focus on one section.
Gained some new ideas.
Very practical advice.
Enthusiasm of presenter and sharing of expertise at differentiation for audience.
The presenter's knowledge about Sensory Stories and her honesty if she was not sure about an answer.
Enthusiasm.
Examples of props and when to use them.
Ideas for stories.
Practical examples and demonstrations by the presenter who was excellent and very knowledgeable.
The webinar made me think differently about how to approach sensory stories. I often use Bag Books (which I do believe have a place in sensory storytelling), but I had never thought about how to incorporate sensory elements in old favourites. Bag Books often have one page of text and the stories are often very basic; it's great that there are ways for children with ASN to experience and enjoy story books with a clear plot and narrative structure.
Enthusiasm of presenters. One hour is perfect length.
Sharing ideas for useful books/ stories to use and the resource list of simple but useful props, objects and sensory items to introduce and try.
All the different ideas. It was good to hear confirmation that I was doing the right thing in sensory stories I have made.
Taught me lots of different techniques.

What, if anything, do you think should have been included?

A read through of a sensory story session.
A wider list of books that are considered good to convert.
N/a. The information was really useful however the barrier of acquiring the props remains. I personally have spent a lot of my own money on creating sensory stories. It would be great if I didn't have to do that and there was a hub/resource bank where we can rent out/borrow the sets.
An overview at the beginning, just to know when things would be presented. I found I wrote a lot, then the slide show was presented so I was replicating my notes ... perhaps can be taken as a positive to ensure I embed it in my knowledge. 😆
Some video footage of good examples.
Model a session - very quick demo of a simple book.
It was all great!
Perhaps an example of a book with suggested sensory resources to get people started.
Perhaps a little longer to allow for more questions.
The content was excellent.
Nothing else, it was what I expected to learn.
Nothing I can think of!
I would have liked an even longer webinar, if at all possible - Aileen did wonderfully by managing to cram a lot of information in the one hour. I'd love a 2 hour or even 1.5 hour option in future, though I completely appreciate this is dependent on workloads and availability.
I would like to see a link to an actual recording of a session so I can see a model.
Tricky to do online and to a group of adults, but I would love to see or participate in one of your sensory stories e.g. how it is introduced, the gentle reveals and story resolution.
No, it was great. N/A (4)

How did you hear about this course?

Line manager: 5
SSC direct email: 3
Colleague: 6
SSC Website: 3
Other: 7 (Social Media, NCNN, CLPL Bulletin, VI Forum)

What other CPD training would you like the SSC to provide?

Training on AAC, eye gaze, switch, technology and how they can support a sensory impairment.
Perhaps more bespoke to specific topics/books/curriculum areas.
Anything and everything! It was a very worthwhile course, at a good time and being free is always a bonus. Thank you!
Other sensory activities for ELC to support those children who are motivated by their sensory preferences.
Sensory stories for older learners.
Anything CVI-related or technology and apps (for CYP with VI).
Anything related to VI/Complex needs in primary schools. Especially sharing practical ideas and suggestions such as this one. Music would be really helpful for me too - working with some non-verbal, non-ambulent children with VI who love music but I struggle to facilitate their participation.
More of the same.

Technical Feedback

No fault of the presenter, I think because there were so many people there was, at time, an echo or delay in the speech.
Data connection affected sound occasionally but possibly just me locally.