ERIC Number: ED451337
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2001-Mar
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1443-7171
EISSN: N/A
Life Online: Resources for Students with an Intellectual Disability.
Weeks, Kerri
ARIS Resources Bulletin, v12 n1 p1-4 Mar 2001
Two Australian agencies planned, developed, piloted, and evaluated an online resource for teaching independent living skills to adult students with a mild intellectual disability using technology and the Internet. The resource, called Life Online, is a package of support resource materials tested in regional classrooms in Victoria, Australia. Educators working with the target population were surveyed; feedback was gathered regarding course provision, student learning styles, teaching strategies, resources used in the classroom, and student interests, motivation, expectations, and attitudes. Life Online resources were designed in a simple format that included graphic presentations to visually stimulate learners and featured simple graphically presented case studies, followed by multiple choice exercises. Units focused on nutrition, menu planning, shopping, budgeting, travel, money skills, electronic banking, and community access. The program was designed to appeal to adults aged 18-25 and to encourage them to adopt a healthy and positive approach to life. Since students related best to real-life situations, the program was very people-focused. "Characters" provided photographic modeling and narration. Feedback from teachers at pilot sites was generally very positive: the program provided age-appropriate materials; instructional procedures were adequate; and students related to the characters. All students enjoyed using the program and noted that their computer skills and confidence grew. The most liked aspects were the pictures, activities, and characters. (YLB)
Descriptors: Adolescents, Adult Education, Agency Cooperation, Budgeting, Cognitive Ability, Computer Uses in Education, Daily Living Skills, Developed Nations, Distance Education, Educational Resources, Educational Technology, Foreign Countries, Internet, Learning Disabilities, Literacy Education, Money Management, Numeracy, Nutrition, Online Systems, Pilot Projects, Program Development, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation, Slow Learners, Special Needs Students, Visual Stimuli, Young Adults
Language Australia, GPO Box 372F Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia. Tel: 03 9926 4779;, Fax: 03 9926 4780; e-mail: aris@la.ames.vic.edu.au; Web site: http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/language-australia/aris.
Publication Type: Journal Articles
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Adult, Community, and Further Education Board, Melbourne (Australia).
Authoring Institution: Language Australia, Melbourne (Victoria). Adult Education Resource and Information Service.
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A