Creating University - High School Connections

Creating University/High School Connections Using Assistive Technology for Students with Learning and Attention Challenges Presenters Mary Beth Foster & Rose Wilhite Strategic Learning Specialists Co-coordinators - SALT High School Connection University of Arizona, SALT Center Mary Hinson Faculty Univ. of Arizona, Special Education Consultant, Curricular Access Founder SALT High School Connection

Creating University/High School Connections for At-Risk Students Program Title : SALT High School Connection Program Objective: to prepare high school students for higher education through a partnership between a university and a high school Partners : the Univ. of Arizona SALT Center & Catalina H.S. SALT (Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques), a university department providing learning support to students with learning and attention challenges Catalina High School - an inner-city school with a high minority population, high failure and dropout rate and a large special education population

SALT - Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques - Established in 1980 - Offers support to students with learning & attention challenges - Currently provides services to over 550 students - SALT First Year Retention Rate = 90% vs. university wide rate of 77% - SALT Graduation Rate - 80% over five yrs vs. University wide rate of 57% over six years

SALT’s Features Learning Specialists Writer’s Lab Workshops on Learning Skills Tutoring Assistive Technology Counseling

History of SALT High School Connection Fall 2005 - Mary Hinson (Special Education teacher and job developer at Catalina High School in Tucson) approached the SALT Center with a vision to replicate the same support services with Special Education students at Catalina Goals: To decrease a high failure rate To improve students’ use of study skills & resources To encourage college as a post-secondary option

Failure Data 2005 Catalina High School 9th graders - 68% failing 1 or more classes 10th graders - 48% failing 1 or more classes 11th graders - 52% failing 1 or more classes 12th graders - 21% failing 1 or more classes

Students Who Were Recruited 1 st Year Had 1 or More of the Following Characteristics Failing 3 or more classes Students who were ditching class regularly Had a processing deficit in either or reading or writing or both areas Were seniors who would benefit from this technology

SALT High School Connection Program Offerings Teacher In-Service: Teacher training in universal design strategies, attended by special education & general education teachers Study Skills/ English Resource Class - SALT staff Presentations w/student mentoring: - Learning strategies - Organizational skills Assistive Technology Training Shadow Days & SALT Tours

Assistive Technology Programs Software programs purchased through educational awards: ing “Unsung Heroes Award” & “Kurzweil Teaching Excellence Award” Kurzweil -- a text to speech software program Dragon Naturally Speaking -- a voice recognition typing program Inspiration – a software tool for visual mapping and organization

Student Evaluations of Program Video assessment Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin SALT VISIT - Video Clip 1 What did the SALT Center do to assist students at your school? Which events did you participate in? Study skills class? SALT tour? U of A SALT Shadow Day? Which assistive technology programs have you used? How has this technology benefited you in your studies?

Assistive Technology for Reading Kurzweil Reads text aloud (digital format or scanned text) Dictionary & highlighting tools Study Notes Features Writing & Editing Features Implemented as an accommodation on AIMS

Assistive Technology for Mind Mapping Inspiration Provides visual organization Brainstorm feature Webbing Templates – for educators & students Converts web organization to outline

Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 Speech Recognition Software Talk n Type program Little training time Highly accurate Quick – up to 160 words per min. Uses Brainstorming Writing Papers Writing emails & instant messages

SALT Presentations with Student Mentoring College & SALT information sessions Classroom Presentations - SALT Staff - Student mentors - Learning & Organization Strategies

Topics Presented Reading Math strategies Essay writing Note-taking Test preparation Test taking Decision making & Goal setting Stress management Time management Organization Learning styles Using assistive technology Admissions procedures College transition

Student Evaluations of Program Video assessment Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin Strategy Topics – Video Clip 2 Take a look at the list of topics presented by SALT. SALT staff & students talked to you about strategies in reading, writing, test taking, math, avoiding procrastination, and time management. Which of these were the most helpful or relevant to your studies? Tell us how you have used one of these skills in your classes. What would be a topic that you would like to know more about? Why?

Sample Topic from Time Management & Test Preparation Study Plans Breaking assignments & studying into chunks Making studying intentional Planning with month or Semester Calendars

Student Evaluations of Program Video assessment Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin AIMS Improvements – Video Clip 3 Have you seen any improvements in your grades or AIMS test scores? If so, what do you think has helped the most?

AIMS Gains Points Gain Rdg./ Score Points Gain Writing/ Score 1. +216 (448-664) +253 (413-666) (Falls FB-Approaches) (Approaches-Approaches) 2. +61 (623-684) +39 (615-664) (Falls Far Below-Meets) (Approaches-Approaches) 3. +170 (483-653) +116 (510-626) (Approaches-Approaches) (meets-Approaches) (3rd grade-10th grade scores) (3rd grade-10th grade scores) 4. +131 (507-638) +112 (588-700) (Meets-Approaches) (meets-meets) 5. +204 (457-661) +110 (532-642) (Approaches-Approaches) (Meets-Approaches)

Points Gain Rdg./ Score Points Gain Writing/ Score 6. -1 (631-630) +56 (591-647) (Approaches-Approaches) (Falls FB-Approaches) 7. +42 (642-684) +58 (642-700) (Approaches-Meets) (Approaches-Meets) 8. +283 (381-664) +253 (427-680) (Falls FB-Approaches) (Approaches-Meets) 9. +210 (465-675) +196 (499-695) (Approaches-Meets) (Approaches-Meets) 10. +289 (402-691) +259 (358-617) (Falls FB-Meets) (Falls FB-Meets) 11. +14 (669-683) +25 (675-700) (Approaches-Meets) (Approaches-Meets)

College Preparation Info. Sessions: SALT & UA admission procedures SALT Tours SALT Shadow Days 3 hosted, 1 per semester High school students paired with SALT students Attended 2 U of A classes Followed by a discussion of the differences between college & high school

Student Evaluations of Program Video assessment Students in Video: Angel, Jake, Zach, & Kevin College Bound – Video Clip 4 What did you think college was like before SALT started visiting your school? Before this year, did you see yourself ever becoming a college student? Had you made any plans for college? At this point, do you have any plans for going to college? Has this changed since the beginning of the year? What details about college life and academics have you learned from your experiences with SALT?

Student Success Stories 15 students participated in at least 1 component of program during ‘05 – ‘06 23 students participated in at least 1 component of program during ‘06 – ‘07 5 seniors in program during 2005 – 2006 All graduated on time All went on to pursue post-secondary education

Student Successes Significant decrease in absences Tremendous improvement in academic many students went from failing multiple classes to passing all classes Many students made the Honor Roll Increase in self-esteem/ decrease in frustration

Future of SALT High School Connection Program ongoing at Catalina High School Shadow Days Staff Presentations with mentors Tours

Making the Connection Questions Comments Ideas for creating similar programs in your community

Creating University - High School Connections

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