|
Examination of the Intermediate Bridge, with Applications |
Friday, May 28, 2004 |
10:00 AM–5:00 PM |
Fairfax A |
Area: PRA; Domain: Applied Research |
CE Instructor: Kayce Cover, J.D. |
KAYCE COVER (Syn Alia Training Systems), DEBBIE WINKLER (Dog Ears and Paws Assistance Dog Training) |
Description: The Intermediate Bridge (IB) is a tertiary reinforcer that can reduce training time by 25 - 75%. This workshop explores the features and benefits of the IB, and its applications. In particular, an IB mediated communication system will be demonstrated, showing acquisition of a concept and related vocabulary, in as little as five minutes. Instructors can harvest direct feedback from pre-verbal children, non-verbal, or sub-verbal adults, or the temporarily non-verbal, such as stroke patients, as well as from animals. However, the IB has myriads of applications in teaching people with normal verbal skills, as participants will have the opportunity to experience. As time permits, participants can put forth cases for review and demonstration. Participants will receive a PDF (on disk) copy of The Syn Alia Series, Volume I: An Introduction to Bridge and Target Technique, by Kayce Cover (see http://www.synalia.com for additional information), and an article detailing the features and applications of the IB, as well as a hard copy of the course syllabus. |
Learning Objectives: At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: Understand and apply the Intermediate Bridge (IB). Condition bridges in a seven-step process. Teach targeting in a four-step process. Use targets for communication. Isolate concepts. Teach matching, discrimination, and vocabulary. Test acquisition of matching, discrimination, vocabulary. Use these components to harvest non-verbal feedback. Coach clients via the IB. See the IB applied to their applications, as time permits. |
Activities: A series of explanations and demonstrations of the process, with descriptions of applications, interposed with hands on practice by all participants. Video tape of applications with humans and animals will demonstrate the breadth and ease of application of these skills. Participants will view animals making choices, giving information, answering questions, and cooperating in tasks. We plan to also show recent work with an autistic child using the IB to communicate with his assistance dog. |
Audience: All instructors including therapists, clinicians, special needs teachers, pre-school teachers, researchers involved in animal studies, laboratory personnel, zoo keepers, animal trainers, and anyone interested in communication and motivation. |
Content Area: Practice |
Instruction Level: Basic |