Lights, Camera, Interaction! SSB to Present at ASHA  

Throughout the year, the Social Skill Builder cofounders speak on the benefits of video modeling at speech/languages conferences across the country. Laurie Jacobs will conduct a session titled, “Lights, Camera, Interaction!” at the November ASHA conference in Philadelphia.
  “The session will explore the proven benefits of video modeling for improving social language and explain how to customize the experience to meet your particular student's needs,” Jacobs said.
  Simple but important guidelines make video modeling effective. “The primary rule of video modeling is to present real people in real scenarios, rather than cartoons or drawn images. It is critical to focus on facial and body expressions to convey both verbal and nonverbal language cues,” Jacobs said.
  “Each video should focus on one concrete skill,” Jacobs said. “Don’t overload the student with too much action or too many choices that will cause them to lose focus. Also, always keep things positive. We have found that a little positive behavior can go a long way toward erasing a negative behavior.”
  In the session, Jacobs will discus how Social Skill Builder’s award winning software combines video modeling with interactive computer software programs that teach students to understand the best response in a given social situation. 
  “The software leads the student through a gradual process of mastering the skills they must incorporate into daily interactions to live more successfully in society,” Jacobs said.
  Overall, Jacobs’ session will address the practical application, implementation and generalization of video modeling to best meet a student’s pragmatic needs and goals. ♦

2010 Calendar
♦ event speaker 

September
♦ 21-22: Iowa - Statewide Training on Video Modeling and SSB Products

October
♦ 22: Closing the Gap, Minneapolis 

November
♦ 17-19: OCALI Conference, Ohio
♦ 18-20: ASHA, Philadelphia
18: Seminar for IU #20, PA

December
♦ 3-5: Texas Autism Conf.

Pair Free Online Videos With Social Skill Builder Software to Support Behaviors and Interactions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F35R58k-EOc.

A wealth of free tools for teaching pragmatic language can be found by a simple internet search. The above video uses real pictures and succinct narration to show what can be expected, and how one should behave at a movie theater. Try these sorts of free video social stories in conjuction with Social Skill Builder's teaching software for even more versatility and application.

For example, use the above video as a basic overview, then dig deeper with the detailed analaysis of our My Community CD's movie theater series of videos. As the student gains understanding and mastery of the skills through the software, use the still pictures from the YouTube video to have them create their own "social story" of going to the movies. This activity allows the student to carry skills over into another context, taking them closer to the goal of incorporating the skills into their natural environment.♦