Attention Hanen Members - More than Words® is becoming an entry-level workshop


For many years, we have received requests from SLP/Ts who wanted to attend the More Than Words® workshop without needing to take It Takes Two to Talk® first. In light of these requests and of the increasing need for SLP/Ts to gain autism-specific clinical skills (which are frequently not taught in speech pathology programs), we decided to poll our members on this topic.

In 2012, we polled our members regarding whether or not The Hanen Centre should make More Than Words® an entry-level workshop (i.e. remove It Takes Two to Talk® as a prerequisite for this workshop and allow SLPs with no previous Hanen training to attend).

The results were split 50-50, with many members stressing the importance of the adult education component from It Takes Two to Talk as an essential element in an entry-level workshop.

After careful consideration, we decided to restructure the More Than Words workshop to make it entry-level. This resulted in our having three entry level workshops: It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words and Learning Language and Loving It.

Our major challenge was to ensure that the information on adult education and Hanen’s teaching methodology was addressed in all entry level workshops so that each workshop could then cover application of the methodology to its specific population.

We knew that our best option was an online training module. In our search for online tools, we were introduced to some great new technology, which allowed us to create an online module that covers all the theory on adult education principles, learning styles and the 4P teaching-Learning cycle in an engaging and interesting format. This online module, “Helping Adults Learn” will become part of a more extensive mandatory pre-workshop assignment for all entry level workshops (ITTT, MTW, LLLI). Each workshop has its own assignment as well as this online module. We are confident that “Helping Adults Learn” will provide workshop participants with the background knowledge needed to benefit from the live training they receive in the workshop. We have pilot tested this module and the feedback we received has been very positive.
 

Phasing out Advanced More Than Words Workshops
 

If you check Hanen’s Workshop Schedule over the next few months, you’ll see More Than Words Certification (entry-level) Workshops gradually replacing the Advanced version.  In October, the website will reflect Hanen’s new training structure and workshop prerequisites (click here for a sneak peek). After Nov 2013, all More Than Words workshops will become entry level workshops.
 

Introduction of Pre-Workshop Assignment “Helping Adults Learn”


Moving forward, anyone who registers for an entry-level workshop (It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words or Learning Language and Loving It™) must complete this mandatory Pre-Workshop Assignment.  This means that if you are a member with It Takes Two to Talk or Learning Language and Loving It certification, and you wish to attend More Than Words, you will also need to complete the assignment as part of the workshop.  This Pre-Workshop Assignment (registered for 0.5 CEUs with ASHA) provides an interactive overview of Hanen’s Teaching Methodology and will be a fun refresher for those who have already taken It Takes Two to Talk. Note that once you have completed this Pre-Workshop Assignment once, you will not be required to complete it again for any subsequent workshop registration.

So, in summary: 

  • Online module “Helping Adults Learn” covers the theory behind Hanen’s adult education-based teaching methodology
  • “Helping Adults Learn” will be completed by all participants who attend ITTT, MTW and LLLI workshops after Nov 2013
  • Once a member has completed “Helping Adults Learn, ” s/he will not need to redo it even if s/he attends another entry-level workshop
  • “Helping Adults Learn” is part of a more extensive mandatory pre-workshop assignment , which is specific to the program being taught
  • More Than Words advanced workshop will be phased out as of December 2013

The insight of our members has been invaluable in our decision-making process. Thank you again for your feedback and support as we strive to meet the evolving needs of SLPs.

Warm regards,

 


Elaine Weitzman