Tips to Navigate Telepractice and Remote Learning

Tips to Navigate Telepractice and Remote Learning

Greetings and welcome to AnthroMed Education’s blog.  First, let me briefly introduce myself.  I am Christina D’Arco, a bilingual speech pathologist and the new Director of Clinical Support for AnthroMed.  I have been an SLP for about 12 years with a passion for early childhood and ESL.  I have worked in schools as well as private practice and Early Intervention.  What I’d like to cover in our blog this year is topics related to speech pathology, special education, and working in the school system that will (hopefully) help us all become better clinicians and educators.

There are many aspects of life that may feel unfamiliar in recent months.  Some facets may seem to adapt more easily, such as shopping or socializing, while others, such as education and related services, continue to feel foreign to many.  However, telepractice is not a new concept, and there is a sizeable collection of research going back many years into the effectiveness of teletherapy in several fields including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology.  Research in the field of education may be somewhat less extensive but still present.  Across the board, many studies agreed that telepractice/remote learning can provide similar outcomes to face-to-face learning, when done appropriately.  That is to say, there is not anything inherently inferior or superior about remote learning, but it should not inhibit the ability to learn.

There are two method of implementing telepractice. Synchronous telepractice is “live”, conducted in real time, using video and/or audio technology.  Asynchronous telepractice is anything else; this would be when a therapist creates materials, including written, audio, or video, and sends those materials to the client or family to complete independently.  Hybrid options, or a combination of both models, are also possible.

While there are many factors to consider, there are three main components I want to consider here:

 

Facilitators

 

A facilitator can be any individual “on-site” with the client to assist in implementing therapy strategies or techniques.  In most cases, for school based remote learning, your facilitator will be a parent or caregiver.  This may be unfamiliar territory for teachers and therapists and an intimidating proposition for some parents.  However, I believe this is a great opportunity for both sides.  By modeling, coaching, and explaining our strategies to parents, we as educators can become more aware and intentional in our instruction.  More importantly, we will be empowering parents to become more active participants in their child’s education and therapy, and ultimately, in their progress and success.  After all, we know that the key to any effective learning is carryover; a family that can implement strategies or provide cues is more equipped to support that carryover throughout the day or week.

 

Materials

 

There is an endless wealth of materials to explore when it comes to telepractice.  Boom cards, Teachers Pay Teachers, Screencastify, Google Slides, the list goes on and on.  Just as with face-to-face therapy, there is no single right or wrong material to use; its more about how you use it.  On the flip side, I encourage you to contemplate times where you could use less materials rather than more.  Consider what types of materials (like pots and pans, laundry baskets, or paper towel tubes) may be available in the child’s home, how to utilize their favorite toy, or how to incorporate family mealtime into therapy activities.  I believe there can be a balance between the structure of prepared materials and the flexibility of the child’s natural environment.

 

Technology

 

As with materials, there are multiple options in the field of technology.  Options include generic videochat programs like Facetime as well as more education/therapy focused platforms such as Google Classroom.  It is best to start by consulting with your school district regarding their preferred platform.

Just as with starting anything new, this process will not always be flawless.  There will be hiccups for you as therapists and teachers, as well as for parents and children.  However, this is not unique to telepractice; we encounter challenges with our students on a daily basis, regardless of the setting.  Remember that you are still the same therapist (or teacher) with the same training that you have or would utilize in a classroom or therapy room.  You are still the expert and parents are looking to you for guidance on how to best support their child.

 

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Please explore these links for profession-specific resources regarding remote learning and telepractice.