Video Modeling

We are blessed to have 6 iPads in my classroom!  What a dream this has been this year for my students!  This has allowed us to expand our use of Video modeling, as we always have a device that we can record and play back.  What a help this has been!

But...I'm getting ahead of myself.  What is this video modeling, and how can it be helpful in teaching functional life skills?  With the availability of technology growing, so is the way we teach our kids.  One way we have found that is beneficial for students with disabilities, especially those on the Autism spectrum is Video Modeling.  It takes on the same idea of modeling a task, except it is recorded, which allows the student to view it as many times as they want or need to grasp the task, without having the staff/adult continuously show it themselves.  It provides a concrete and specific example of how to complete a task and it can be used in all ways, shapes, and forms in a functional classroom.

One of the ways we have begun using video modeling is in the kitchen.  Each week, our students are given a recipe that they must follow to complete a cooking task.  Some students do best when the recipe is written, with words on a sheet of paper, others prefer directions using pictures.  Some students perform best when the recipe is put on note cards and they can manipulate and move through the note cards to complete the cooking project, and others, we have found learn from watching a video of someone completing the steps of the cooking project.  This discovery was made out of necessity in my classroom last fall when a student came my way who, no matter the "paper" format of the recipe, he would not focus his attention in the kitchen enough to complete the task.  This particular student LOVED watching videos on Youtube, so I wondered, what if his cooking project was on Youtube?  From there came an idea that changed my classroom.  Now, we have our own "channel" on youtube, which displays videos of our cooking projects each week.  Students can tune in at school, at home, anywhere they wish and use our video recipe to complete a variety of cooking tasks.  Here is an example of one of our videos...
Microwave Popcorn

We have also used the video modeling, along with QR codes, to provide on the spot assistance to complete a variety of tasks around the center.  For example, on our dishwasher, you see this...

 Our students can use a QR reader App on the iPad to scan this code.  They will then be taken to a video on Youtube that is Video Modeling of how to load the dishwasher.  So slick!!!  One more way they can be independent!  Here is the video they would see if they scan this code...

Loading Dishwasher Video Modeling with QR Code

We have QR codes for washing laundry, drying laundry, washing dishes, drying dishes, and changing the bag for our shredder.  AND we have a list of many more tasks we would like to prepare video modeling for!

We are so excited to take the idea of Video Modeling out into the community as well!  Do you use Video Modeling in your classroom or to teach community skills?  Have you seen an impact on student learning?  Please share!

Come to the edge with me...
Mackenzie