RSS Feed
Pyramid Educational Consultants - Free Webcast Series
Developed by Andy Bondy, Ph.D. and Lori Frost, M.S., CCC-SLP
Co-Founders of Pyramid Educational Consultants and Co-Creators of the Picture Exchange Communication System™ (PECS)
Our webcasts are slide show presentations with audio narration that are streamed from our website and viewed from your computer. Please note our webcasts are not live and do no allow interaction between the presenters and the audience. Webcasts are Windows and Macintosh compatible and require a computer with flash and speakers/headphones to view. The webcasts are overviews only and are not intended to replace training workshops in the relevant areas.
Current titles include:
- PECS and Skinner's Verbal Behavior
- I am the Master of my Emotions
- A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS
- The Pyramid Approach for Parents and Professionals
PECS and Skinner’s Verbal Behavior (60 minutes)
In Pyramid’s first webcast, PECS and Skinner’s Verbal Behavior, join Andy Bondy and Lori Frost as they explore how the work of B.F. Skinner can help everyone better understand how language can be viewed from a behavioural perspective. The information is presented in a simple and conversational manner, enabling even the novice to grasp the concepts discussed.
General Description:
Learners with autism have significant problems in acquiring and using language. This webcast offers a brief description of how the work of B.F. Skinner can help everyone better understand how language can be viewed from a behavioural perspective, one that leads to practical applications and improved lessons. Skinner wrote an important behavioural analysis of language in the book Verbal Behavior. In this book, he shows how we can look at basic units of language and determine how they are
systematically related to important aspects of the environment. By understanding how these
language units – called verbal operants – are acquired, we can better plan to help learners with
communication challenges to master simple units as well as more complex parts of language.
His analysis stressed that the form or mode of communication is not as important as the
functional understanding of language units. For example, requesting an apple leads to a different outcome than talking about the apple you ate yesterday. Skinner’s analysis also points
out why certain parts of language – “I really want the apple” – are so difficult for individuals with
autism to learn. Finally, we point out that this analysis can be helpful to everyone – parents and
professionals from various fields of study.
PECS and Skinner’s Verbal Behavior is appropriate for all members of the educational team who want to learn more about Skinner’s Verbal Behavior, including speech-language pathologists, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, behaviour analysts, psychologists, social workers and/or other professionals providing services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
What you will learn:
- Define “verbal behaviour” and “vocal behaviour”
- Name the three antecedent conditions for verbal behaviour
- List three primary verbal operants
- Analyse pure versus multiply controlled verbal operants
Presenters: Andy Bondy, Ph.D. and Lori Frost, M.S., CCC-SLP
Length of Webcast: 60 minutes
Please click here to veiw our free PECS and Skinner's Verbal Behavior Webcast
Interested in learning more? Click here for additional information about our Analysing and Fine Tuning Communication training workshop, or contact us at admin@pecsaustralia.com to find out how you can host your own workshop.
I am the Master of my Emotions (45 minutes)
In Pyramid’s second webcast, I am the Master of my Emotions, join Andy Bondy as he explores why many children, especially those with autism, have difficulty in acquiring language related to expressing emotions and identifying emotions in other people. Andy presents the information in a simple and conversational manner, enabling even the novice to grasp the concepts discussed.
General Description:
Many children, especially those with autism, have difficulty in acquiring language related to
expressing emotions and identifying emotions in other people. This webcast will present an
overview of our full-day talk, The Language of Emotions, about an analysis that relies upon B.F.
Skinner’s work. This talk will review how effective lessons regarding emotions can be designed
and implemented. We also discuss why these lessons are so difficult to teach.
B.F. Skinner provided an important guide to the analysis of language in his book, Verbal Behavior.
In this book, he stresses the critical value of focusing on the function of various aspects of
communication. His analysis includes a very interesting section on what he termed “private
events”. That is, how do we learn to talk about things that happen inside us? In this webcast, we
will review traditional approaches to teaching children with autism to communicate about their
emotions as well as how to respond to such language from other people. We will review how to
consider various lessons related to emotions and how to incorporate Skinner’s analysis into the
design of effective lessons. These lessons may involve very young children or teenagers or
adults who continue to have difficulty with this topic. We will review why this area is so difficult
for those with autism and suggest teaching strategies that may lead to successful acquisition of
these complex language skills.
I am the Master of my Emotions is appropriate for all members of the educational team who want to learn more about the language of emotions, including speech-language pathologists, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, behaviour analysts, psychologists, social workers and/or other professionals providing services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
What you will learn:
- To describe how children typically learn to comment about “private events”
- The type of information adults respond to when teaching children to tell us about their emotions, and what may be missing for children with autism
- Why traditional approaches to teaching “the language of emotions” may not be effective and how they can be improved
- How to take advantage of existing emotional displays and how to create situations that are likely to induce such feelings
- Why it is not really easy to teach ”really”
- Why it will be helpful to attend the full-day workshop, The Language of Emotions
Presenter: Andy Bondy, Ph.D.
Length of Webcast: 45 minutes
Please click here to veiw our free I am the Master of my Emotions Webcast
Interested in learning more? Click here for additional information about The Language of Emotions training workshop, or contact us at admin@pecsaustralia.com to find out how you can host your own workshop.
A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS (45 minutes)
In Pyramid’s third webcast, A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS, join Lori Frost as she introduces the Picture Exchange Communication System™ (PECS), and includes a synopsis of the six training phases, a discussion of myths and facts associated with PECS and an overview of the research related to PECS.
General Description:
This webcast introduces the Picture Exchange Communication System™ (PECS), and includes a
synopsis of the six training phases, a discussion of myths and facts associated with PECS and an
overview of the research related to PECS.
This talk begins with a brief overview of the Pyramid Approach to Education™. A description of
traditional approaches to communication and an overview of PECS follow. The consultant will
briefly discuss the phases of PECS and outcome data, as well as the relationship of PECS to
reinforcement systems, schedules, and behaviour management.
A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS is appropriate for all members of the educational team who would like to learn about the Picture Exchange Communication System™ (PECS), including speech-language pathologists, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, behaviour analysts, psychologists, social workers and other professionals who are providing services for or living with individuals with developmental disabilities.
What you will learn:
- The Picture Exchange Communication System™ (PECS) is a unique augmentative/alternative communication system (AAC)
- PECS consists of six distinct training phases
- PECS is an evidence based strategy
- Common misconceptions about PECS
Presenter: Lori Frost, M.S., CCC-SLP
Length of Webcast: 45 minutes
Please click here to veiw our free A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS Webcast
Interested in learning more? Click here for additional information about our PECS Basic Training, or contact us at admin@pecsaustralia.com to find out how you can host your own workshop.
The Pyramid Approach for Parents and Professionals (30 minutes)
In Pyramid’s fourth webcast, The Pyramid Approach for Parents and Professionals, join Dr. Andy Bondy as he introduces the Pyramid Approach to Education™.
General Description:
This is an overview of how to set up an effective teaching environment for learners with autism
and/or related developmental disabilities. Dr Andy Bondy begins by briefly discussing the base
of the Pyramid including functional activities, reinforcement systems, communication/social
skills, and contextually inappropriate behaviours and alternatives. A description of the top
elements of the Pyramid, including generalisation, creating effective lessons, specific teaching
strategies, minimising and correcting errors, and data collection and analysis follows.
The Pyramid Approach for Parents and Professionals is appropriate for all members of the educational team who would like to learn about the Pyramid Approach to Education™, including speech-language pathologists, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, behaviour analysts, psychologists, social workers and other professionals who are providing services for or living with individuals with developmental disabilities.
What you will learn:
- An introduction to the concepts and elements of the Pyramid Approach to Education™
Presenter: Andy Bondy, Ph.D.
Length of Webcast: 30 minutes
Please click here to veiw our free The Pyramid Approach for Parents and Professionals Webcast
Interested in learning more? Click here for additional information about our Pyramid Approach Basic Training (Functional ABA), or contact us at admin@pecsaustralia.com to find out how you can host your own workshop.
