Written specifically for undergraduate-level and speech-language pathology assistant students, Introduction to AAC focuses on AAC for children and adults. It presents the foundational knowledge of AAC in a way that is engaging for beginning students, incorporating pedagogical elements designed to encourage active learning such as Mindful Minute, Reflection, and Try It Out + Reflection critical thinking opportunities embedded in each chapter. The text also presents questions throughout the chapter rather than at the end, in the format of declarative questions, application tasks, and open-ended For thought… questions. The chapter conclusions are also designed to support learners absorb the information by using headers, “What did I learn?”, “Why does it matter?”, and “What’s next?” to drive home overarching ideas. The first header uses person first language to guide the learner to read the summary of the overarching concepts of the chapter. Then, the student learns about the implication of the importance of the information. Finally, concepts of the upcoming chapter are outlined detailing a natural progression that links the information from the current chapter to the following chapter.
Key Features
- Bolded terms: The bolded term feature allows students to visually landmark on important concepts, create associations with the surrounding text, and identify them again more easily when preparing for assignments, projects, and exams.
- Case studies: Mini and full case studies create an opportunity to blend conceptual knowledge with a real-world person. They play a vital role in creativity, allowing students to consider application of concepts to someone that they may work with or support in their future.
- “Mindful Minute”: At one or more points in the chapter a “Mindful Minute” opportunity is embedded that creates space for a learner to pause and consider the content. The learner is asked to do something with a concept that was introduced.
- “Reflection”: encourage students to take a perspective, consider their perspective, think about prior experiences, or establish new thoughts on a topic.
- “Try It Out + Reflection”: challenges students on their understanding of a concept with a quick activity and reflection.
