Kimberly Zajac: Creating Fun & Interactive Projects That Meet Learning Objectives & IEP Goals

Kim Zajac is an SLP and audiologist is a Communication Specialist in Norton Public Schools in Massachusetts, working with grades 6-12. Kim is also an associated professor at Emerson and is a member of the board of MassCUE, the Massachusetts chapter of ISTE. Kim shares some of her strategies for making teaching and therapy sessions more inclusive, interactive, and engaging for all students!

 

Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss some takeaways from ASHA 2023, including increased discussions about  MTSS in school districts. Rachel shares about a session by Tiffanie Joseph (nigh.functioning.autism) that was a highlight, as well as some of her takeaways from that session!

 

Key ideas this week:

 

🔑 Kim takes a student-driven approach that addresses the student’s goals, but in a more experiential way, such as creating a board game with a group to work on things like grammar and higher order thinking.

 

🔑 Students often are more motivated to work in class when they have an authentic problem to solve, and it often helps students to reflect on themselves and their future in ways they would not with a more abstract question.

 

🔑 Kim uses self assessment rubrics to help students keep track of the goals they are working on. Sometimes, when they have the skill mastered, Kim will add a group mate for the student to track as well. She will also use rubrics to grade the projects the students create.

 

Links from this week's episode:

 

MassCue - masscue.org

 

Vocaroo - https://vocaroo.com/

 

Adobe Firefly - https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly.html

 

MidJourney - https://www.midjourneyai.ai/

 

BlueWIllow - https://www.bluewillow.ai/

 

Dall-E 2: https://openai.com/dall-e-2

 

Gimkit - gimkit.com 

 

Kahoot - kahoot.com

 

Innovator’s Compass - innovatorscompass.org

 

Mary Howard: ChatGPT Guide for Educators - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200832186-the-chatgpt-guide-for-educators

 

Donnie Pearce: Tips for Integrating AI in the Classroom - https://www.amazon.com/50-Strategies-Integrating-into-Classroom/dp/B0C5G74W4N