Needs for Course (1)

Speech-language pathologists providing intervention in Indiana’s public schools (for children ages 3-21) are facing two challenges. First, the number of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working in the schools does not meet the existing need. According to the Indiana Council of Special Education Administrators (ICASE) there is a critical shortage of SLPs in Indiana schools. Second, changes in service delivery mandated by state and federal laws require on-going education for current practitioners. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), reauthorized in 1997, has resulted in several changes in the delivery of speech-language therapy services in schools. Some of these areas of change include

The full realization of the 1997 reauthorization of IDEA has resulted in changes in state regulations and procedures. For example, the Indiana State Board of Education is currently revising Article 7, Special Education Rules, to reflect modifications of services to children with special educational needs. SLPs must be familiar with the federal and state requirements so that they may modify communication therapy to comply with regulations. To best meet the needs of students with communication disorders, continuing education opportunities for SLPs are needed. SLPs working in schools are requesting instruction to allow them to stay informed of current developments within the profession. Additionally, there are SLPs who have worked within healthcare settings who are now interested in working in public schools and therefore require additional education to prepare them for working in school settings.

How the Course will Serve Needs of the Target Audience (6)

The need for continuing education related to SLP services in the schools results from several areas of concern. In addition to the need for SLPs to know current policies and procedures resulting from revisions in federal law and state regulations, SLPs are required to participate in continuing education to maintain their professional licensure. The use of SLP paraprofessionals is also impacting the profession and requires additional education for those SLPs who will supervise “aides” or “assistants.” The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Council of Administrators in Special Education advocate the use of support personnel in speech language pathology services. The State of Indiana has followed the national trend to develop the use of SLP paraprofessionals. The Indiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc., approved and recommended Speech-Language Paraprofessional Guidelines in November of 1995. SLP aides/assistants may only work under the supervision of a licensed SLP and that SLP may supervise no more than three aides/assistants (Health Professions Bureau of the State of Indiana license regulations for SLPs and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants). The supervising SLP is required to register any assistants they supervise, may supervise only up to three, and must provide documentation of the supervision plan (Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Rules, Indiana Law, Title 880). In 1998, the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Special Education developed guidelines for use of SLP Associates (bachelor’s degree education), SLP Assistants (associate’s degree education), and SLP Aides (high school education). This development created an immediate need for continuing education for Master’s level SLPs so that they may understand the roles of the different paraprofessionals and the supervision requirements associated with each.

Learners to be Served (2)

There are approximately 1,020 SLPs working in Indiana public schools who are providing services to nearly 68,000 children between the ages of 3 and 21. The number of SLPs who are licensed by the Health Professions Bureau is approximately 1,250. Some SLPs in Indiana have dual licensure. That is, those who work in school settings hold teacher certification and may also be licensed by the Health Professions Bureau. Therefore, although the total number of SLPs in Indiana is difficult to pinpoint, the number is likely to exceed 2000. SLPs working in public schools are required to earn Certification Renewal Units (CRUs) to renew their teaching certificates. For those who also hold Certificates of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association, attainment of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) is of interest. Continuing Education is required to maintain Health Professions Bureau licensure. Continuing education activities are consistently sought by SLPs for these licensing reasons, as well as for attainment of information needed to stay current with the delivery of speech-language therapy.

Proposed Course & Technology (3)

A request for funding support for the development of a continuing education course for practicing SLPs is described in this proposal. This course will be offered as a video taped independent learning activity that participants may complete at any time within a six month period from mid-June 2000, to mid-December, 2000, and will earn 2 hours of graduate credit, and/or continuing education credit (CRUs and/or CEUs). The visual medium of television and videotapes will be used since therapy procedures will be demonstrated and the currently available technology of CD ROM development does not fully allow the sound and visual quality needed for these demonstrations. Internet support for the independent learning activity will be available through a web page and opportunity for e-mail interaction with course instructors will be provided. Pre- and post-test measurements will be used to assess learner outcomes. The taping of the lecture materials will occur during the week of June 5, 2000. During the taping some students may also choose to take advantage of the live class-presentation in the studio or participate at Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS) sites throughout Indiana as it is broadcast. Between class sessions and throughout the six-month period, students will be provided with opportunities to interact with instructors and each other via e-mail, toll-free voice mail, and audioconferencing. Course materials will be available on a website for distant learners; those who cannot access the Internet will be provided with printed handouts.

The Department of Audiology & Speech Sciences has an established system for setting up receive sites and anticipates that more than 30 sites would be established throughout Indiana. Since SLPS are primarily working in healthcare and school settings, and IHETS continues to expand sites in these settings, it is possible to deliver this instruction at a fraction of the cost of a traditional classroom offering. The Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences has delivered telecommunicated distance education via IHETS television and State University Voice Network (SUVON) for over 27 years, and now wishes to expand delivery to an even wider audience by providing a mechanism for learners to participate independently and on their own schedules.

Instructional Design, Delivery & Evaluation (5, 7)

The course will be designed to address S/L service delivery in schools by presenting current laws, regulations, and changes in service delivery, and discussing current topics in speech-language therapy for school-age children. The course content will be divided into modules of instruction that will cover the following topics: 1) School laws and regulations, 2) Use and supervision of paraprofessionals and models of service delivery, 3) Current therapy methods for voice, fluency, language, and phonology disorders, 4) Current developments in services for children with hearing impairments, and 5) Issues related to working in classrooms and collaborating with teachers.

Each topic will be addressed through a variety of teaching methods, including lecture, group discussion, videotaped demonstrations, and participant learning activities. These topics require visual presentation to allow demonstration of therapy and supervision techniques. Case studies of individuals with communication disorders will be used in several modules, requiring high sound quality of videotapes to allow learners to discern specific speech disorders. Objectives and learner outcomes will be identified for each topic and to assure that participants achieve these outcomes, pre- and post-assessment measures will be used. Item analysis will be completed to identify the extent to which learner outcomes are achieved. Additional information regarding method and effectiveness of course delivery will be gathered through the course evaluation. Development of future courses will use this summary information to design increasingly effective methods for independent learning activities.

Statewide Collaboration and Transferability Plans/Strategies (8, 9)

The course will be inter-institutional to maximize the expertise available in Indiana. The instructional team will include professional staff and faculty from the Department of Audiology & Speech Sciences at Purdue University as well as from Indiana University, Indiana State University, and from the Indiana Speech-Language Hearing Association. The team will include the following individuals from Purdue University: Janet Harrison, Ph.D., Jeanette Leonard, M.A., Barbara Solomon, M.A., and William P. Murphy, M.A.. Faculty from Indiana State University include Mark Stimley, Ph.D. and Georgia Hambrecht, Ph.D., who have agreed to collaborate and present modules on training and supervision of paraprofessionals. The first training program for SLP assistants will soon be offered at Indiana State University, and this project will also address their goal to educate SLPs in Indiana about the training of SLP paraprofessionals. Elizabeth McCrae, Ph.D., of Indiana University, will contribute a module on supervision. Dr. McCrae is nationally known for her work in supervision in speech-language pathology. Colleen Reader, President, Indiana Speech-Language Hearing Association, supports development of the course and will serve on a panel for discussion of how SLPs can best work with classroom teachers. This interinstitutional collaboration will allow for peer review of course content, and will lead to transferability of course credits. Evaluation for transferability has been initiated with Indiana State University and Indiana University.

Marketing Plan (10)

The course will be advertised through a mass mailing to the nearly 2000 members of the Indiana Speech-Language Hearing Association (ISHA). Announcements will be made during the two live broadcasts of the Psi Iota Xi Interactive Television Series. The course will be advertised in the Indiana Speech Language Hearing Association newsletter in spring, 2000. Information will appear in the course listings for Purdue University and information will be distributed at Indiana University and Indiana State University. The course will be publicized by a mailing to Special Education Administrators in public schools throughout Indiana. The application for Continuing Education approval from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) will lead to publicity through listing in the national newsletter that is distributed to all ASHA members. The Distance Learning website of the Department of Audiology & Speech Sciences which is a link from the Purdue University Distance Learning site, will include advance notice of the course offering during the spring of 2000. A second mailing to public schools’ Special Education Administrators will be made at the beginning of the fall semester to allow ample time for completion prior to the December end of the project.

Capacity and Commitment to the Course-Development Project (4)

The course will be taught within the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences at Purdue University, under the listing of AUS 590T. This is a graduate level class that can be taken by students for two hours of credit. The department is an ASHA approved Continuing Education Provider, so the course will be offered for Continuing Education Units, as well as Certification Renewal Units, which are required to maintain SLP school licensure in Indiana. AUS590T, is a Special Topics course that will be entitled: Current Trends & Patterns in SLP School Services: Preparing for the New Millenium. Development of this course and its asynchronous distance learning delivery is supported by the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences (see letter from Department Head). The project supports the outreach mission of the department since students may participate independently, may choose to attend on-campus in the studio classroom, or may participate at IHETS receive sites in locations throughout the state.

Project Schedule/Timeline: (11)

Key Course Development Personnel (12)

The developer and lead instructor of the course will be the project director, Janet S. Harrison, Ph.D. Dr. Harrison is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences at Purdue University and is the Director of Clinical Training in Speech-Language Pathology. She has taught interactive graduate level telecourses in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, and administrates distance learning and continuing education for the department. As director of the Psi Iota Xi Interactive Television Series, she has experience with organization and delivery of continuing education activities.

Budget Explanation

The primary costs of this proposal are 1) the time of the project director and a graduate assistant, 2) videotaping and telecommunication costs, 3) printing & mailing of brochures, 4) copying and mailing of course materials, and 5) consulting fees for collaboration with faculty, including related travel. Collaboration fees will not be calculated as hourly wages, but will allow payment by honorarium to faculty from other schools or facilities within Indiana.

Salaries and wages are requested from IHETS/IPSE to fund a quarter time Graduate Assistant for three semesters, computed at $25,080/academic year times 25% = $6,270, fringe benefits at 0.39% of salary = $24, and graduate fee remissions at $3,456. Also requested from IHETS/IPSE are studio and videotape costs at $2,250. The total request is $12,000.

The Purdue matching amount includes 20% of the Project Director’s time for three semesters, computed at $51,045/academic year times 20% = $10,209 and fringe benefits at 35.14% of salary = $3,587; consultation and travel fees for collaborators at $2,000; and costs for publicity and mailings at $300. The total Purdue contribution is $16,096.