Social Skills Teaching

[Guest guest]

:

I have used a couple of software programs to teach social skills to children. I

have found that to effectively learn the identified skill and generalize from

the software program the children should be around 8 - 10 years of age or have

language/cognitive skills at least around the 6 - 8 year age level. (I do work

on social skills with young children as well but in more intensive and direct

formats).

Some computer software programs I have used are [prices are quoted in Canadian

dollars--a real plus for those of you from the USA!!):

Opening Night: Puts students in charge of a life-like multimedia theatre where

they create, direct, and perform their own plays. It includes more than 40

photo-realistic costumed characters, 110 different scenes, hundreds of props and

sound effects, plus musical selections--students can even print out their

scripts or hear them read aloud. (Software Plus [some computer software stores];

Mac/Windows CD-ROM; $79.00/single copy; $170.00/lab pack [5 site license])

Imagination Express Series: Destinations - Neighbourhood. A children's

multimedia program that allows them to create professional looking electronic

storybooks. Children build essential communication skills as they select scenes

and characters, plan plots, write, narrate, animate and record dialogue to

create remarkable adventures. Each destination includes features such as:

movie-making; smart stickers with autosize; fact books, story printing, view

modes, and adult options. (Edmark [bridges/TASH/any computer software store];

Mac/Windows CD-ROM; ~$56.00 each title)

Each program requires quite a lot of programming effort on the part of the

adult. I use the software by programming to depict a targeted social skill

complete with characters, backgrounds/settings, sound, and narration. The child

can then run the program to 'see' the skill in action. They are multimedia

programs and so require up-to-date computers.

Hope this helps.

--Tracie