I do not plan on having this be my last Blog... I really hope many of our classmates continue to blog as well. I have learned much from reading your blogs and have viewed them as a helpful tool this semester.

Updates:

I have spoken with my building administrator regarding the necessary work that needs to be done prior to the intervention I have planned next academic year. I have a scheduled meeting with the superintendent and the director of special education to discuss my plan for next year.

I have shared with my administrators my literature map and review as well as my purpose statement and research questions. They seemed very pleased with the level of work that has already been dedicated to this project.

After the meeting I realized just how valuable this class has been towards improving my clinical skills. This class has put me on the path towards the development of my concept paper. This class has also helped improve my ability to formulate and implement clinical interventions for students with special needs.

What I am trying to say is: Thank you Dr. Reeves for helping me to look good in front of my employers.

My research will be a quantitative in design. I will be developing a data collection method that accounts for Verbal and Physical Prompt Levels. Length of Sessions will be recorded as well as Response Time Delay. I am working on a data collection method that will record spontaneous use of AAC systems within the classroom environment. Time of session, specific activity, and specific request will be identified on the data collection form. Whether or not the request was understood by peers will also be recorded. The Augmentative and Alternative Communication Profile will be used to evaluate and assess levels prior to planned intervention and again after planned intervention has been concluded.

I have three weeks to finish concept paper and fine tune all the details before my meeting with the superintendent and the director of special education.
My wife just gave birth to our first child last week so my priorities shifted a bit over the past week.

I am looking forward to meeting you all this summer.

Keep On Blogging !!!

Identifying the "Purpose" and Identifying "What" I hope to learn.

This is a rough draft of my purpose statement and my research questions. I am sure I will be revising them soon.

Purpose Statement:
The purpose of this study is to determine how intense ABA style intervention with severely impaired students affects their cognitive understanding and functional use of AAC systems within a general education classroom.

Dependant Variables: Cognitive understanding of communicative acts for requesting objects. Functional use of AAC system to request objects within a general education classroom.
Independent Variable: Structured ABA style language intervention


Research Questions:
• What effect does intense ABA instruction have on cognitive understanding of AAC systems?
• How does ABA instruction affect a severely disabled student’s ability to functionally use AAC systems?
• Why do students with severe disabilities present with difficulties in their ability to functionally use AAC systems within general education classrooms?
• What are the internal factors that prevent students with severe disabilities from functionally utilizing AAC systems?
• What are the external factors that prevent students with severe disabilities from functionally utilizing AAC systems?
• How does ABA instruction overcome internal and external variables that hinder functional use of AAC systems in general education classrooms with severely disabled students?

Working Map and Updated Problem Statement

I have uploaded my Map.

My updated problem statement:

Students with severe disabilities are failing to generalize functional use of AAC systems for behavioral regulation and social interaction within the general education classroom.

Blog 2: Problem Statement Revisions and the Beginning of What Will Someday Be a Literature Map

Revised Problem Statement:
Many students diagnosed with severe speech and language disabilities are failing to generalize the functional use of augmentative and alternative communication systems into general education classrooms.

Literature Review and Mapping:
Professionals have been researching the benefits of AAC systems for years. It is not hard to find research that supports the positive effects that AAC systems have on increasing verbal productions. There are several studies that explore assessment strategies for augmentative and alternative communication systems. There is not a lot of research that focuses on how best to promote functional use of AAC systems in a general education classroom.
A literature review should not be viewed as an opportunity to show everyone how many articles you have read. The purpose of a literature review is to show justification for your research. The research compiled in a review should help support the argument for the completion of your research. A literature map should be viewed as a graphic representation of pertinent research to your chosen topic.
I have compiled a long list of resources that are relevant to my research topic. Compiling the list of resources on this topic was easy. I am working to identify the most relevant research articles that support my argument.
I have begun working on my literature map. I am still in the process of focusing my ideas. I have not yet fully developed my theoretical perspective.

I am having difficulty uploading my map to this blog. I will keep trying.

Problem Statement

Methods of Inquiry
Blog 1

Hi Everyone,

My name is Gerard and I am a speech pathologist practicing in New York. I currently work with students diagnosed with severe speech and language impairments in a school setting. I also work with patients recovering from strokes.
I am currently persuing my SLP.D.

I am viewing this blogging experience as a way to kind of "talk out" my ideas. Constructive critisism is always welcome.

The topic or focus of my dissertation will most likely center on my current caseload in the school setting. I am currently involved in a trial program that centers on intergrating students with severe speech and language impairments into general education classrooms.

Problem Statement:

Many students who are diagnosed with severe speech and language impairments are failing to generalize learned skills into the classroom environment.


I realize that this problem statement is broad and in no way tries to narrow down components that would make for interesting research. I wrote it this way on purpose. I have not yet narrowed down the specifics of my proposed problem statement. Over the next few days I will be fine tuning the statement to be direct. For instance, the specific speech and language impairments will be identified when my problem statement is revised. Specific speech and language goals that students have difficulty generalizing will be identified.


I look forward to exploring my chosen topic through this blogging expierience.