Professional Development | News

Wyoming Teachers Look To Boost Effectiveness of Assistive Technologies

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 03/31/14

Some teachers in Wyoming are learning how to better use assistive technologies thanks to a new program launched by the University of Wyoming's (UW) Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND).

Dubbed Echo-University of Wyoming (Echo-UW), the initiative builds on the University of New Mexico's Project Echo by focusing on "the use of technology to leverage scarce resources; improving outcomes by reducing variations in care and sharing 'best practices'; case-based learning; and monitoring of outcomes," according to a UW news release.

The program will feature Friday meetings throughout May for nine educators who are members of WIND's Professional Learning Community in Assistive Technology. At the sessions, "Echo-UW will provide training in assistive technology and will facilitate student case presentations by educators for mentoring and co-management with the assistive technology experts," according to information released by the university.

Participants and their districts include:

• Anne Baures, speech language pathologist, Sheridan County School District #2;
• Casey Widhalm, assistive technology coordinator and case manager at Fremont County School District #1;
• Chris Victor, speech language pathologist at Big Horn County School District #1;
• Eric Freeman, assistive technology strategist, Natrona County Schools;
• Katie Harmon, resource teacher, Sweetwater County School District #2;
• Kellan Bagley, speech language pathologist at Lincoln County School District #2; and
• Molly Hanson, middle school/high school life skills teacher at Sublette County School District #1.

"Once data collected from the pilot project has been analyzed and used for program improvement, ECHO-UW will be expanded in September to include additional educators from around the state," said Sandy Root-Elledge, WIND associate director, in a prepared statement.

More information is available at uwyo.edu.