2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/06/2023 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Virtual Education: Not Bad, But Could We do Better? | DECC 236
Virtual Education: Not Bad, But Could We do Better?
Everyone is ready to put the year 2020 in our rearview mirror especially educators. Many educators and interventionist struggled to make the jump from in-person learning to the virtual environment. A new level of creativity had to be found but it did not happen with out an extreme level of frustration felt across every area of education including special education (Gewertz 2020). However, does that mean that virtual education does not have a place in the future, especially for those working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students? In some respects it answers some challenges that we have had over a number of years. Access to qualified professionals, a growing teacher shortage and so on, have put Deaf and Hard of Hearing students at an increased disadvantage especially those students in the mainstream (Lenihan 2010). While virtual education may be an answer to some of those issues, it is not without challenges. Studies have shown that positive outcomes can come from virtual learning though most studies would agree that what is lacking is “best practices”(Rice 2006). There are many grassroots efforts to reach deaf and hard of hearing students through the virtual environment. Creating a model of best practice would ensure that those efforts support the success of the children they are serving while answering growing needs in the profession. Virtual education and intervention has a place in the future however it is paramount that we put our best foot forward in serving student.
- Participants will recognize the potential benefits of virtual learning and interventions for deaf and hard of hearing students in general education.
- Participants will be able to discuss the potential positive outcomes and challenges of using virtual learning and intervention.
- Participants will identify some of the potential strategies for establishing best practices for virtual learning/intervention with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Alexandria Mestres
(), University of Miami Children's Hearing Program, asm120@med.miami.edu;
Alex Mestres, a Miami native, attended Flagler College where she received a degree in Education of the Hearing Impaired and Elementary Education. She also recently received a Master's Degree in Applied Learning Sciences from University of Miami. Alex also has a wide variety of experience and credentialing in early childhood. She has worked in the private sector as an administrator, professional development trainer, and consultant. More recently she served as the department chairperson for Deaf and Hard of Hearing services with Miami Dade County Public School. While with the county she oversaw the itinerant teacher program and provided technical assistance to a wide variety of schools. Alex currently serves as a consultant and provides all deaf and hard of hearing services for Academica Charter Schools as well as Charter Schools USA. Along with those responsibilities, she is the educational specialist at the University Miami's Children's Hearing Program where she provides educational support for families of children with hearing loss.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -