See and Learn
The See and Learn project aims to develop a programme of structured and
graded language-learning materials, suitable for use at home or at
school with children with Down syndrome.
The See and Learn materials will provide a
step-by-step structure to promote the two key areas of language
development:
- vocabulary development (the number of words a child knows)
- grammar development (a child’s knowledge and skills in combining
these words into sentences).
The See and Learn programme is grouped into
four main steps taking children from learning their first words to
producing three word sentences and beyond.
The materials are initially developed and piloted as printed materials.
Each step of the See and Learn programme provides a range of
resources such as picture and word cards, matching lotto boards and/or
short story books, as well as easy-to-follow illustrated instructions
explaining the activities within the package. Each pack has record
sheets that parents and professionals can use to monitor progress, and
to submit data to the Trust (if they choose).
Following the piloting, evaluation and publication of the printed
versions, equivalent See and Learn activities will be developed as
computer software. This software will use the same set of images and
words so that the printed teaching materials and computer software can
be used either separately or together.
The See and Learn materials will provide a consistent, structured
programme for parents and professionals to use with children with Down
syndrome. This will make the materials suitable for use in planned
research projects.
The information recorded by users on the See and Learn record
sheets and submitted to the Trust (either by post/fax/email or
online) will provide valuable research data on
the vocabulary and grammar development of children with Down syndrome.
- Permanent and measurable improvements in the speech and language
skills of the children using the See and Learn materials.
- Collection of a large set of data on the vocabulary and language
development of children with Down syndrome.
The See and Learn project has been supported by: The Rufford Maurice Laing
Foundation, The Freemasons' Grand Charity, Ambac, Credit Suisse, Adobe, Autodesk
and Macrovision.
Progress
This project is ongoing.
Funding
We are seeking further funds for this project.
Further funding is necessary to maintain this service.
If you would like to support this work, please
make a
donation online or contact giving@downsed.org.