Some comments about Onlineinset from students

“I think the whole concept and execution of the course is magnificent” Pat Hudson. Teacher-in-Charge of Resource Base, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

"I'm excited by the course, I really feel this is well-designed, informative and suitably challenging...it will stimulate a lot of learning and thinking!" Peter Cour-Palais , Oxfordshire

"I have found this course great. My only regret is that I wish it had happened some years ago.I have a 10 year old son, and it took me nearly 9 yrs for someone in authority to take me seriously and act upon my concerns over my son and his problems. He has been partially hearing from 6wks of age and has now been diagnosed with Aspergers due to speech and language. All that I have read through on this site is absolutely spot on. Every day is a learning process on how to deal with things, and every child needs to be respected and dealt with, with their own particualar needs. Fantastic site, well done all." Sharon Blythe. 16th January 2007

 

"I enjoyed the course on a number of different levels; the topic is something I feel very strongly about, it is also an area in which there is so much to learn so having the opportunity to begin the process was most welcome. I also felt that whilst the challenges of supporting individuals with ASD were acknowledged the course didn't dwell on 'doom and gloom' and offered constructive ideas / theories in which we can adopt a better understanding of how we can support someone with ASD. From a personal level being able to fit the course around my family, work and other commitments was fantastic! I especially appreciated the ability to edit contributions made in the wee hours of the morning which read, when fully awake, as if I were in a parallel universe! Many of the suggestions offered would work equally well with non ASD pupils. The course was informative and thought provoking even for a parent with a child diagnosed with ASD. I also think there is the need to educate parents of children without ASD; our children are no more 'bad', 'naughty' or 'disobedient' than their children. With knowledge comes understanding, acceptance and tolerance ... things we ALL need to display to each other."- Bernice Dickenson, Learning Support Assistant (LSA) Surrey. December 2006.

 

"I really enjoyed this course. It was great being able to dip in and out whenever I had some spare time. It was also good to be able to do as little or as much as you had time to do. I would recommend this course to anyone who is likely to be in contact with someone with ASD. It would also be beneficial to parents of children with ASD. There is so much I have learnt I am sure everyone would find something they did not already know. Aside from the understanding of ASD and the strategies I have learnt, I was especially moved by the video clips of the children. Doing this course has made me want to work with more ASD children, or if possilbe specialise in the support of ASD children. Thank you for giving me this opportunity." - Louise Perry. December 2006.

 

"This was a fantastic course it helped me to understand things I have done right and things that although not entirely done wrong but things that I could change. I think everyone in education should at least look at this course. The course itself gives you a great insight in what it is like to have trouble understanding the whole classroom setup. For parents I think it would help them to be able to tell the school or the teacher of anything that their ASD child would benefit from in the class room, or in other situations like the need for certain routines and such." - Jeannie Thrussell. December 2006.

 

"I really enjoyed this course, especially the fact that I could complete it in my own time! I found it usefull, and presented in a clear, visual way. I think that teachers in my school who are either T.A's or teaching a class with a child who has a diagnosis of ASD, should go on this course. The explanation of underlying causes of behaviours, and the strategies given were really usefull. I do think parts of this course would be appropriate for parents e.g. the explanations of ASD and the problems faced in everyday life. However, I think that not as much focus needs to be given to the strategies used in schools. I think that some of the websites about ASD, which a parent will investigate after recieving a diagnosis, are too formal and medical. An approach like this would be far more beneficial." AB Feb 2007 Reading

Lorraine Fisher completed the Managing Behaviour course: ‘I was really dubious to start with because the courses are on the computer and computers and I don’t mix! Once I had completed my first forum I was delighted and surprised with myself.  It comfirmed my ideas of doing things right. I did enjoy it and I want to do another one.’

‘I felt the goals the interventions my teaching assistants chose were very practical and useful. We now have a quick guide to comic strip stories for our TA team plus an experienced user of the method, our anger management interventions start with a mood rating, classroom positioning for youngsters on the autistic spectrum has been discussed and reviewed, and one TA feels a lot more confident that she is doing the ‘right thing’ with youngsters with challenging behaviour! Although a very different method of delivery, our senior teaching assistants have been very enthusiastic about using online courses. They feel the face-to-face sessions and a deadline to finish were very important. Responding to topics online, knowing that everyone else from the course could see them were at first daunting. However, all staff quickly became proficient users of the forums and wrote insightful and thoughtful comments about the course material online.’ Jan Nicholls (SENCO) Exeter