Active Learning

Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."

"We are not teaching skills; we are activating neurology."  - Daniel Kish

Active Learning is an approach developed by Dame Lilli Nielsen to aid visually impaired and deafblind individuals develop tactile skills and build foundational skills in other critical cognitive, physical and emotional development.  Based on typical child development, this approach targets individuals of all ages who function under a developmental age of 3 when real learning only takes place by "doing".  To learn more about this approach, explore the resources listed on this page.

Dame Lilli Nielsen

Active Learning Theory was developed by Dame Lilli Nielsen, sibling of and teacher to individuals with visual impairments and deafblindness in Denmark.  Her approach has been widely used throughout Texas, the nation and the world to address learning for these children.

In an effort to promote the use of Active Learning theory with students who are visually impaired, visually and multiply impaired or deafblind, Outreach Programs has collected relevant articles and information to share with professionals and family members.  What follows is a listing of training events, articles, books, videos, websites, and other materials on this approach.

New Items!

Training Events

Active Learning Study Group

Next webinar:  March 4, 2013 - 8:30-9:30 AM - Phase 4: Sharing the Work

Handout

Recommended reading:  Five Phases of Educational Treatment

When:  01/14/2013 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Central Standard Time

To join the audio portion please use your phone and call into the following toll-free number.
Conference Number(s):  1-888-450-5996
Participant Code: 566932

To join the meeting:
http://tsbvi.adobeconnect.com/active/

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Test your connection: http://tsbvi.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Adobe Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

Notes from Previous Study Group Dates

Notes from the study group meeting held on October 1, 2013 from 8:30-9:30 AM

Kate's Notes from 11.26.12 Study Group

June 19 - 20, 2013

Active Learning for Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments

Location: Region 4 ESC (located at 7145 W Tidwell Road, Houston, TX 77092); Houston, TX MCC 101

Instructor(s): Gigi Newton, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Outreach Department; Patty Obrzut, OTR Penrickton Center for Blind Children

Cost: $70.00

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm on both days

Session ID: 921509

Contact Person: Suzanne Scannell (sscannell@esc4.net)

Credit: CPE 12, ACVREP 10.5

Learn the fundamentals of Active Learning Theory for students with visual and multiple impairments. Using this approach will move your students from passive to active learners utilizing enriched interaction techniques and environments designed for each stage of their development. Participants will learn to infuse IEP learning objectives throughout the day's activities, choose appropriate materials and adaptations and how to design the environment for success. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants. For more information, or to register, go to http://www.escweb.net/tx_esc_04/catalog/session.aspx?sessionId=921509.

Articles

An Introduction to Dr. Lilli Nielsen's Active Learning

This article discusses some of the basic strategies of Dr. Lilli Nielsen's Active Learning Theory.

www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/fall03/lilli.htm

Active Learning and the Exploration of Real Objects

This article describes some of the techniques of Dr. Lilli Nielsen's Active Learning Theory.

http://www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/winter04/active.htm

Incorporating Active Learning Theory into Activity Routines

This article focuses on Phase IV and V of Lilli Nielsen's five educational phases of educational treatment outlined in her book, Are You Blind?, and how the Active Learning principles can be incorporated into activity routines.

www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/winter06/learning.htm

Five Phases of Educational Treatment Used in Active Learning 

This article focuses on five phases of educational approaches that teachers are to use in working with children if they are using an Active Learning theory approach. It summarizes the information first published as part of Dr. Nielsen's book, Are You Blind?

www.tsbvi.edu/.../2151-five-phases-of-educational-treatment-used-in-active-learning-based-on-excerpts-from-are-you-blind-by-dr-lilli-nielsen

Job One for Educators: Becoming a Good Playmate

If children learn through play, then we must become better playmates in order to facilitate better learning for the child.

http://www.tsbvi.edu/resources/2152-job-one-for-educators-becoming-a-good-playmate

Resonance Board and Little Room Design Information

http://www.tsbvi.edu/attachments/article/3415/ResonanceBoardLittleRoomDesign.doc

Taking a Look at the FIELA Curriculum: 730 Learning Environments by Dr. Lilli Nielsen

This article is based on a book by Dr. Lilli Nielsen titled The FIELA Curriculum: 730 Learning Environments and lists the developmental behaviors in three-month increments as described in this book.

http://www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/fall05/fiela.htm

What My Daughter Taught Me About Active Learning or Whose Goal Is It?

A parent shares her journey in encouraging her daughter's learning through play—on her own terms at home and at school.

www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/fall06/active.htm

Books

Dr. Neilsen's books are published in the United States and sold through LilliWorks.  These books include:

• The FIELA Curriculum: 730 activities
• Functional Scheme:Functional Skills Assessment
• Early Learning Step by Step
• Spatial Relations In Congenitally Blind Infants
• Educational Approaches
• Are You Blind?
• Space and Self
• The Comprehending Hand

One of her colleagues, Dr. van der Poel, has published a book of interest to those seeking information on Active Learning.

• Visual Impairment - Understanding the Needs of Young Children

Forms

NEW!  Active Learning Forms used by staff at TSBVI Outreach Programs

NEW!  Attractive Objects includes a list of objects that might be used in Active Learning activities and environments suggested in Lilli's book Space and Self.

Websites

 LilliWorks

Penrickton Center for Blind Children

PBS Parents, Child Development, Baby & Toddler Milestones

Videos, Webinars, and Webcasts

Video

Perceptualizing Aids:  How, Why and When

Webcast

Advisor website video on  Active Learning Play Space

http://www.e-advisor.us/PPS/use.php?fontsize=normal&hicontrast=&media=quicktime

Washington State Services for Children with Deaf-Blindness videos on Active Learning and Hand Under Hand 

http://wsdsonline.org/video-library/deaf-blind-videos/

http://www.wsdsonline.org/video-library/deaf-blind-videos/hand-under-hand/hand-under-hand-videos/

Zoe in the Little Room on YouTube 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_S4dfN_-U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=BOn6E8C0kb0&NR=1

Other Materials

Active Learning Equipment

Downloadable catalog from LilliWorks with information on purchasing all of the Active Learning equipment.

NEW! Lily Voekel Foundation makes Resonance Boards for families who need one in their home and are unable to get it through typical channels.  Learn more about this resource.

Attachments:

Five Phases of Educational Treatment	[ ]	88 Kb	01/11/13 20:49
Active Learning Forms	[ ]	284 Kb	11/26/12 17:53
Active Learning Study Group Meeting Notes - 10.1.12	[ ]	41 Kb	10/ 3/12 22:19
Active Learning Study Group Handout for January 14	[ ]	99 Kb	01/11/13 20:43
Active Learning Study Group Handout for March 4th	[ ]	199 Kb	02/26/13 22:56
Attractive Objects	[ ]	70 Kb	12/ 5/12 15:58
Resonance Board and Little Room Design Information	[ ]	160 Kb	11/26/12 17:53
ActiveLearningStudyGroupNotes11.26	[ ]	242 Kb	11/26/12 16:34
Lily Voekel Foundation	[ ]	61 Kb	02/12/13 15:35