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 JRC provides a personal
computer within the classroom for each of its students. In addition, for
the higher functioning students, JRC provides a personal computer in each
bedroom that students can use for doing their homework.
Computers play a number of roles, which include
the following:
Instruction. The primary use is for
presenting interactive, self-teaching software. The majority of
instruction at JRC is accomplished through individualized, self-paced
programmed instructional software, rather than through teacher-led,
group-paced activities. Students much prefer to do their studying on a
computer than by other means. JRC employs a team of software
developers who develop educational training materials for JRC students
in addition to administrative software for the school as a whole.
Homework. Students use the computers in
the residences to do their homework and to improve on their skills.
Reviewing charted data. Students use
their computers to review charts showing the progress they are making on
their behaviors, self-management projects and on their academic skills.
 Rewards. Students are allowed to use the
internet (with access restricted to approved sites) as a reward. This is
one of the most powerful rewards that we have for our higher functioning
students. Students can also play games on the computer as a reward. Some
of our software is designed to enable the student to choose to play a
game as a reward for accomplishing certain academic goals. Students can
view music videos online, during earned breaks. Students also can choose
the background that is displayed on their desktop. Students have chosen
pictures of things such as popular music artists and pictures of family
members.
Complaints and suggestions. Students
have their own website. Before logging on to this site they can make
anonymous complaints and suggestions. JRC takes these suggestions and
complaints seriously as an important source of potentially useful
information about staff performance as well as a source of useful
suggestions for program improvement.
Student chat room. Students enjoy
chatting with each other by computer, as an earned reward.
Email to parents. Students may also
communicate with their parents by computer.
Training in reading and writing.
Communications that students make to each other by computer must meet
certain standards of spelling and grammar. Therefore, every
communication done by email serves a learning purpose.
Communication with staff to include teacher,
case manager and clinician through business letter, typed on the
computer. When higher functioning students wish to speak with a case
manager, clinician, etc. they are asked to write a correctly spelled
and formatted business letter to that person, using their computer.
Office Job training. Students learn to
type, to use all Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel and
PowerPoint.
Keep records of all work. Students do
the majority of their written academics on the computer and are able to
save all of their Word documents in their personal folder. This allows
them to correct and review past work as needed. Their teacher also has
access to this folder, allowing them to check their students' work.
Communication of needs and wants. Using
the Reward menu, students are able to tell staff what they would like to
earn.
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