I had to figure out how I was using the RAT model in my past career working with children. This model stands for Replacement, Amplification and Transformation. I used to work with special needs children under the age of three years old. My job was to assess the child to see if there were any developmental delays. I evaluated them in 5 domains of development:Gross (large muscles) and fine (small muscles) motor skills. As well as, language, problem-solving and emotional/social skills. After the assessment, I would then write a report showing the results. If the child was delayed in any domains, I would get the required intervention services.
Over the years the assessment process was replaced with new and improved technology that calculated the results from the information I input about the child’s development. This process improved the reliability and clarity of the results. Next, I was able to explained the results in a simplified way to the parents without losing focus of the primary reason for the assessment. The amplified completion of the evaluation assisted with getting the interventions necessary for the family’s needs. Likewise, the results offered computer-generated ideas for the parents regarding the particular interventions for their child’s delays. Lastly, my former co-workers stated that now the assessments are also accepting up-to-date progress on how the interventions are benefitting the child on a monthly basic. This is truly a transformation from what having to record everything intervention and progress by hand into the computer.
Finally, I never really consider how technology operated in the work I did. I always used to fight against new technology and preferred to do the work in the “original” way. Now I am willing to try ways of organizing all my different programs (Web 2.0) in a more efficient system.
Hi Bridgette,
ReplyDeleteThe software the company upgraded to... was it customized software that was developed specifically for your company? Also, although the software calculated all the results about each student based on the information inputed, does it let you override any of the results to improve and individualize diagnosis more closely?
Hi C. Lewis,
DeleteThat's a good question. We actually had to take the results and then write a report base on the child's demographic, family history, siblings and overall functioning. We then compare and contrast the computer results with developmental levels. So, yes the software assisted with raw data and offered families way to help their child. BUT, a human touch was needed for a more individualized report
Hi C. Lewis,
DeleteThat's a good question. We actually had to take the results and then write a report base on the child's demographic, family history, siblings and overall functioning. We then compare and contrast the computer results with developmental levels. So, yes the software assisted with raw data and offered families way to help their child. BUT, a human touch was needed for a more individualized report
Briggette,
DeleteWhat kinds of web 2.0 tools where you considering to help you organize your programs?
Did the program give alternative treatments that might help the child or the parents?
It seems to me that the new web 2.0 tool aloud for parents to get more of visual as to how their child is doing with treatment. I know that using Aims web to progress monitor my students helps me understand if the interventions are making a difference or if something needs to be changed. Then I am able to change the intervention and the program then adjusts the goal from that point and able to see if progress is being made with the new intervention.
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeletethanks for the new program, I will look into it. My project is going to be something along the line of teaching the parent about child development. I just have not figure out how to implement it in web 2.0
One things to consider is that we're looking at this from an evaluation standpoint rather than using the tool for instruction, it seems. I would caution carefully against Web 2.0 tools in this sense for reasons of privacy. Student data should be housed and transmitted using services that provide the highest level of security, which many Web 2.0 tools (including some of Google's services) do not.
ReplyDelete