Technology Tuesday

One of the main goals of Imagine!’s services, whether they involve technology or not, is to provide opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop the skills and tools they need to become fully engaged in their communities.

Therefore, Imagine! employees are at their best when they act as teachers – not just providing care but providing learning opportunities so the individuals they serve can develop needed skills and tools. But being an effective teacher isn’t always something that comes naturally. So Imagine! has a long history of providing employees with opportunities to learn and improve their abilities as teachers, so they can then be more effective in their interactions with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Imagine! is embracing technology to help prepare Imagine! employees to be teachers. We are currently creating a series of ten online modules design to impart the “Principles of Learning and Teaching.” The reasons for developing this training online reflects the realities of an organization like Imagine!. We operate in a 24/7 environment across a relatively large geographic area, making large group employee trainings impractical and expensive propositions.

 By placing the trainings online, employees are able to access them at a time and a place that is convenient, making it easier for everyone, while at the same time leaving plenty of opportunity for individual and personalized employee development.

The various online modules of “Principles of Learning and Teaching” will include lessons on important topics including: How to Reinforce Skill Development; Aversion Control and How to Avoid It; Ways to Facilitate Task Independence: and Ways to Determine Needed Support Levels.

The more skills and tools Imagine! employees have to help them embrace the teaching aspects of being a Direct Support Professional, the more skills and tools they will be able to impart on those we serve. This is a win-win situation that we hope will have long term benefits for all, and simple online technology is making that possible.