Supporting Peer Interactions for Students With Complex Communication Needs in Inclusive Settings: Paraeducator Roles

Purpose: This clinical focus article presents a review of literature supporting the importance of fostering positive peer interactions for students with complex communication needs (CCN). A resulting template is included to help guide educational teams, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs), in planning for paraeducator training specific to supporting peer interactions for children with CCN. This clinical focus article summarizes the current literature available on inclusion and peer relationships for students with CCN in general education classrooms and paraeducator roles and training. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth framework was consulted to help establish considerations relevant to paraeducator training. With many demands on the time of SLPs throughout the school day, paraeducators may offer an often untapped resource to help support positive peer relationships for students with CCN. Conclusions: This clinical focus article provides an overview of challenges that may impede positive peer relationships from developing in inclusive classroom settings, including ones related to (a) the student with CCN, (b) the peers, (c) the augmentative and alternative communication systems, or (d) the environment. The readers will be provided with a template to guide educational teams and SLPs in collaborating with paraeducators to foster positive peer interactions, including the following steps: (1) define goals for the student with CCN and determine supports required from paraeducators, (2) determine content of training for paraeducators, (3) choose an effective instructional approach, (4) establish a feasible training format, and (5) implement the paraeducator training and evaluate outcomes to ensure benefits for students with CCN and their peers.

Data Literacy Training for K–12 Teachers: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects on Teacher Outcomes

This meta-analysis explores training teachers in the use of data, defined as any quantifiable information that helps teachers know more about their students for instructional decision-making. The questions addressed are as follows: (a) What are the features of data literacy training for kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers? (b) What are the effects of data literacy training on kindergarten through 12th-grade teacher outcomes? and (c) Do training characteristics moderate the effects of training? A comprehensive search of research conducted between 1975 and 2019 yielded 33 studies with 163 effect sizes that met inclusion criteria. Using a random effects model, findings demonstrated significant positive effects on knowledge and skills, g = .67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [0.40, 0.93], and beliefs, g = .48, 95% CI = [0.17, 0.79]. A collaborative training format significantly and positively moderated effects. Implications for teacher trainings and the design of future research are discussed.

Teacher Training Needs and their Influencing Factors: A Case Study of 13 Chinese Border School Teachers

Teacher training is not only the way to improve the quality of teachers in China's border areas, but also one of the collaborative paths to promote the high-quality development of regional education. Teacher training needs to provide a practical reference for specific service teacher training. Through conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and using the grounded-theory three-level coding method for discourse analysis, this study explores teacher training needs and their influencing factors and how such factors influenced teacher learning and the development of teaching communities in border areas, in China. In the coding process, the researchers used MAXQDA (20.4.0) for auxiliary analysis. This work has constructed a model of teacher training needs and its influencing factors. Teacher training needs in border areas include training format, training content, training intensity, training opportunities, and training practicality. The factors include subjective factors, organizational development, institutional environmental factors, and field culture factors. According to the results of the model analysis, we put forward these optimization strategies: provide special mental health courses and counseling services for border teachers; carry out school-based training to form teachers' learning community; plan special training and create an international influence of border education, which would enhance teachers’ sense of professional honor and improve the perception threshold of achievement.

ACACIAS Project: Physiological and Subjective Effects of High-fidelity Simulation During Delivery of Bad News in Oncology

Background: Delivering bad news is difficult and requires specific training, but this training can be accomplished through high-fidelity simulation (HFS). This prospective study was conducted to objectively evaluate the emotional impact of HFS as an effective tool to develop clinical proficiency.Methods: This prospective feasibility study was conducted from January 2021 to May 2021. Students received a 1- or 2-day training course. The emotional impact of the intervention was evaluated by self-questionnaire and by an Affect-tag wristband that analysed Emotional power (EP), Emotional density (ED), and Cognitive load (CL).Results: The study population included 46 students with a median age of 25 years (range 21–34 years). Participants were emotionally and effectively involved in the HFS training without being completely overpowered by emotions, which may be an inherent feature of the training format. Students who participated twice improved their EP (p < 0.001) and decreased their ED (p = 0.005). CL remained stable (p = 0.751). The mean time of the first and second training increased (1:41 vs. 2:16, p = 0.02). Skills improved as assessed by self-questionnaires and by outsiders (actor/nurse).Conclusion: HFS is a good method for this type of training, considering the emotional impact. Training in delivering bad news was improved through objective practice and self-assessment by participants.

An Integrative Review on the Feasibility and Acceptability of Delivering an Online Training and Mentoring Module to Volunteers Working in Community Organizations

Background: Volunteer programs that support older persons can assist them in accessing healthcare in an efficient and effective manner. Community-based initiatives that train volunteers to support patients with advancing illness is an important advance for public health. As part of implementing an effective community-based volunteer-based program, volunteers need to be sufficiently trained. Online training could be an effective and safe way to provide education for volunteers in both initial training and/or continuing education throughout their involvement as a volunteer.Method: We conducted an integrative review that synthesized literature on online training programs for volunteers who support older adults. The review included both a search of existing research literature in six databases, and an online search of online training programs currently being delivered in Canada. The purpose of this review was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of community-based organizations adopting an online training format for their volunteers.Results: The database search identified 13,626 records, these went through abstract and full text screen resulting in a final 15 records. This was supplemented by 2 records identified from hand searching the references, for a total of 17 articles. In addition to identifying Volunteers Roles and Responsibilities; Elements of Training; and Evaluation of Feasibility and Acceptability; a thematic analysis of the 17 records identified the categories: (1) Feasibility Promoting Factors; (2) Barriers to Feasibility; (3) Acceptability Promoting Factors; and (4) Barriers to Acceptability. Six programs were also identified in the online search of online training programs. These programs informed our understanding of delivery of existing online volunteer training programs.Discussion: Findings suggested that feasibility and acceptability of online training were promoted by (a) topic relevant training for volunteers; (b) high engagement of volunteers to prevent attrition; (c) mentorship or leadership component. Challenges to online training included a high workload; time elapsed between training and its application; and client attitude toward volunteers. Future research on online volunteer training should consider how online delivery can be most effectively paced to support volunteers in completing training and the technical skills needed to complete the training and whether teaching these skills can be integrated into programs.

Analysis of the tutors’ activity for creating a platform for distance tutoring

Today, in connection with the informatization of society, all spheres of life are adapting to distance working conditions. Tutors, like many other teachers, need to adapt to the new lesson format. The article examines how the services of tutors in various subjects via the Internet are provided, what software and educational resources are used to prepare and conduct distance learning, are there any significant differences from the point of view of the tutor in the distance and face-to-face training format. The preferences of tutors regarding the functionality of the system are given, which will be a tool for conducting individual lessons on the Internet. The research was carried out using an empirical method — through a survey. To participate in it were invited tutors who are already teaching online or have taught before, as well as those who are just starting to engage in online tutoring. The results of this research are presented in an article with analytical comments. A detailed description of the tutor’s activities in the process of conducting distance learning is given. As a result, it was concluded that a system for conducting distance lessons is a necessity for a modern teacher engaged in tutoring. The article presents the necessary functional minimum of such a system.

Trainings for consulting using telecommunication networks

The hybrid training format and the development of consulting with the use of telecommunication networks determine the relevance of training in this area. Training in a hybrid format allows you to assess the technical and non-technical skills of students and significantly expand the possibilities of the educational process, involving in the training of persons who are on distance learning. At the same time, it is possible to analyze systemic inconsistencies and to correct educational measures to eliminate them. The format of the implemented trainings allows students, working in a team, to improve the skills of analytical thinking, decision-making and communication when conducting diagnostic and treatment activities at various levels.

EVALUATION OF LEARNING QUALITY AND STUDENT SATISFACTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The paper represents the results of the study based on the students' questionnaire in the „Evaluation of the quality of remote education” survey. The current survey was conducted in order to identify the impact of the training format (remote in contrast with conventional learning) on both qualities of the studies and student satisfaction levels in the conditions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The questioning of the students took place in 2 rounds, which has allowed us to observe the change in the quality of the studies from the moment in which the remote learning was introduced. When the restrictions were applied, there was a need for a quick transition of the teaching process from the conventional to the online format. In the past year, there was a large amount of knowledge that was gained in terms of online teaching, and thus there is need for further improvement and adaptation of our teaching capacities. To sum up, there are several actions that were formulated for the implementation of online training as a means of support for traditional learning formats.

Can We “Brain-Train” Emotional Intelligence? A Narrative Review on the Features and Approaches Used in Ability EI Training Studies

Recent studies had demonstrated that specific emotional intelligence (EI) abilities (as measured using the MSCEIT) were related to better performance on cognitive tasks that involved emotional information but not on their non-emotional counterparts. These findings suggest that cognitive control and other executive functioning processes (e.g., working memory) contribute to EI abilities. A well-functioning EI ability is crucial for a number of everyday activities and life outcomes. However, the evidence for training ability EI remains vague as to how these improvements occur. The purpose of this narrative review was to synthesize findings from past EI training research, specifically focusing on their methodology. This was to identify key aspects of the interventions used, to determine the prototypical features between them, as well as to propose a compelling research agenda for future EI training studies. Based on the features found in these studies, we identified two possible approaches in which EI improvements occurred. The first approach was through increasing emotional knowledge and related competencies through teaching and practice. These features were found in the majority of training interventions using a workshop-style training format, reflections, role-plays, and practice with other participants. The second approach used brain-training principles to improve basic cognitive processes, such as executive control or emotional inhibition. Using a cognitive training approach to EI training can provide several advantages, such as allowing researchers to examine EI improvements using the theories of (1) transfer; (2) plasticity; and (3) process-specific changes.

Simulation-based education for staff managing aggression and high-risk behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder in the hospital setting: A pilot and feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial

Background and objective: Aggression and high-risk behaviors, which can result in behavioral emergencies, are common in children with autism and can be magnified in the hospital environment. Children with autism, with or without intellectual disability, have complex communication needs which require a sophisticated level of knowledge, understanding and skill from health care professionals. Pediatric acute care nursing staff are often not trained and lack confidence in managing children with autism. The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot and feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of simulation-based education for staff in managing behavioral emergencies with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the hospital setting.Methods: This study used a mixed method, to explore the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a large-scale cluster RCT and assess trial processes including recruitment, completion rates, contamination, and outcome measures. The simulation-based training format comprised two scenarios involving an adolescent with autism, intellectual disability and aggressive behaviors. Two pediatric wards of similar size and patient complexity were selected to participate in the study and randomized to receive either simulation-based education plus web-based education materials or web-based education materials only. Results: The RCT design is feasible with recruitment, acceptability and completion rates reaching target. Self-perceived baseline levels of confidence in managing aggression in children were mid-range and lower for children with autism and intellectual disability. Forty to fifty percent of intervention participants rated the training highly in terms of developing skills and knowledge respectively. The mean group score for observer ratings of de-escalation across four simulations was 20 out of a possible 35. Data for ward aggression were not collected.Conclusions: Simulation-based education is an acceptable training format for acute care pediatric nurses. This study is feasible to conduct as a cluster RCT with some modifications to this protocol including assessment of baseline differences in confidence. Observer ratings of de-escalation skills indicated that more than one episode of training may be required for acute care pediatric staff to successfully de-escalate aggressive incidents. As such, we will use repeated simulation scenario exercises for each intervention group in the next trial.