Pre-workshop Assignment Overview
More Than Words® Certification Workshop

The Pre-workshop Assignment for the More Than Words® Certification Workshop consists of six sections.

Section  #1 - Helping Adults Learn – online learning module
(Approximately 1 hour to complete)

• the theoretical framework that underlies what and how participants learn in all Hanen Programs

• how this framework relates to designing an effective learning environment for parents or educators based on principles of adult learning

• how Kolb’s (1984) four learning styles  affect the learning of Hanen Program participants

• how an  individual learner’s  knowledge, experiences, values and beliefs  affect the learner’s approach to the learning experience

• how the Hanen teaching methodology, titled the "4P Teaching-Learning Cycle,”  facilitates learning and behavior change by addressing individual learning styles and characteristics

Section  #2 – Autism Spectrum Disorder: What The Research Tell Us – online learning module
(Approximately 1 hour to complete)

• the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing ASD and Social Pragmatic Disorder

• prevalence and co-occurrence of autism

• the genetic and environmental contributions to the neurological differences of individuals with ASD

• the red flags/early signs of autism

• important areas of development for SLPs to evaluate during assessments

• the continuum of treatment approaches for children who have ASD, based on the article by Prizant and Wetherby (1998) 

Section #3 - Observation and Checklist Completion
(Approximately 40 minutes to complete)

This video gives you all the information that is shared with the parents during this session, including the social communication challenges that children with autism experience, the four stages of communication and the logistics of running a More Than Words Program.

Section 4 – Follow Your Child’s Lead: Include Your Child’s Interests (Approximately 20-30 minutes to complete)

This section introduces you to the first strategy parents learn in the More Than Words program. This strategy is the foundation for all other strategies taught in the program.

Section 5 – Assigned Reading: Understanding Social Communication in Autism (Approximately 20-30minutes to complete)

This reading explains how social communication develops in children with ASD, and provides a framework for communication assessments and setting goals for these children.

Section 6 – Observation and Checklist Completion
(Approximately 1 hour to complete)

You will be required to observe two children who are on the autism spectrum and complete two checklists which outline development in the areas of play and interaction.