Why Online Works at IOB
“He’s always on the computer! It drives me crazy! He needs to go outside and play with his friends.”
“She’s always looking at her phone. How will she ever engage with humans in real situations?”
These quotes are all echoed by parents. Whether your child is neurotypical or neurodiverse–if you are a parent–you have likely said one of these things to your spouse or a friend. Today’s children are digital natives, growing up in the information age. We can’t go backwards from this trend of technology being at the forefront of everything that happens at school, work, and home. Of course, the global pandemic has accelerated this trend!
Since our workshops have gone virtual over one year ago, we hear this from our students' parents:
“He’s so comfortable being online for the workshops since his sensory issues make environments difficult to tolerate.”
“Not having to drive my daughter to the studio has enabled her to engage more often in IOB workshops.”
“My child is learning so much more now that we have the creative software on a computer in our home that can be used in and out of the workshop.”
We also hear this:
“She doesn’t want to be online again after a full day of online school”
“How can my son have a meaningful experience online?”
“I want my child to play outside, not look at a screen more.”
At Islands of Brilliance (IOB), we tout the benefits of our online experiences: connection, creativity, and community. Not only have we been able to reach more students as a result of our pivot to virtual learning but we've also witnessed more moments of growth, positivity, and seen more smiles than we ever thought possible.
No two online experiences are alike. Understanding the nature of the online experience, the goals and possible outcomes, can help you and your student make good decisions about when, why, and how often to be online.
Isolation & Escape
“Isolation” and “escape” can apply to anyone using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Twenty minutes of Facebook scrolling, a half hour of Candy Crush, or an hour searching that next cute puppy video on YouTube can all classify as isolation and escape. For many of us, those moments are a time to turn everything off in our brains and disconnect from the many interactions with family, friends, and co-workers we have every day. For someone with autism whose daily interactions are limited due to social challenges, unstructured time on the internet can increase existing feelings of loneliness and further the escapism that makes real life feel even more scary.
On the other hand, online video games and videos can offer consistency and predictability, giving a person living with autism a sense of control that they don’t have in other settings. As an alternative to video games and videos, an IOB workshop also provides consistency and predictability by leveraging a routine that hits on important soft skills like collaborating with a mentor, conversation, and talking about work. The very nature of the workshop structure offers students chances to:
learn how to advocate for themselves
practice conversation in an encouraging space
develop confidence through making something around their area of interest
practice time management to complete a project within workshop parameters
try new things they haven’t before considered
Consumer vs. Creator
When students first come to learn about IOB, we ask them if they have experience using a computer. They (or their parents) often reply with “yes!” We then dig a little deeper to find out what that computer experience looks like. Prospective IOB students often spend a lot of time consuming information from the internet, whether it is on YouTube, Google content searches, or watching their favorite shows. While these activities help them add to their deep knowledge of their favorite topics, they rarely result in increased skill using a computer.
With an emphasis on creating, IOB workshops give students the opportunity to engage with technology in a different way and develop new habits and routines around using a computer. Our students quickly learn how to open design software, access files, and save their work. With the help of our professional design mentors, the students learn how to leverage design software and create something that aligns with their strengths and interests.
For example, a student who has a deep interest in all things Spiderman will likely make a poster using Adobe Photoshop that features the web slinger. This type of computer engagement opens up a world of creativity for students and gives them a glimpse into how to combine their creativity with technology. They see the value in leveraging their creativity with a computer and their technology habits and routines change as an outcome. When this happens, our students’ families often say they have new hope that there are options for their children’s futures.
Communication & Community
When asked what they like about workshops, IOB students’ #1 responses are related to working with their mentors or to seeing their friends in the online learning experiences. This tells us that although they really like the creating, they also enjoy the community. Our students tell us that they feel welcome in our workshops, that their mentors listen to them, and that they can connect with their peers. For many of our students, an IOB workshop is the first time that these connections are possible, let alone consistent.
You may have seen a recent IOB Facebook post that highlights the Brilliant Breakfast Club (BBC), an online community for those over 18 living with autism. Over the last year, we have witnessed a loyal community of BBC participants who like to chat about what it’s like to live with autism, navigate the adult world, and discuss the latest Marvel movies and tv shows. In the online model, the number of participants has doubled and their consistency every week is remarkable. For these IOB participants, the virtual world works as a solid vehicle to deliver connection, practice social skills, and build community.
The Doodle Lounge is another online workshop that has an emphasis on community. In these zoom meetings, students hang out for 50 minutes and draw whatever they want. Some students use paper/pencil and some use digital drawing tools, like an iPad or a computer. Conversation often occurs–sometimes verbally or in the zoom chat–around the art that is being created. At some point during the session, a student will announce that they are ready to share their work and all eyes move to the screen. The students offer the sharer some praise for a job well done and then it’s back to drawing. It’s a safe environment, guided by mentors and driven by students. Our students know that when they come to Doodle Lounge, their creativity will be celebrated.
Engaged & Self-Directed
The keys to a positive and successful learning experience: engaging students and giving them the opportunity to direct their learning. The online learning environment offered at an IOB workshop provides a high level of engagement because the students are online. In a distance learning workshop, students have to manage their devices, their software, and their projects. They are empowered to get in the driver’s seat and be in charge of their creations, using the design mentors as guides.
Additionally, IOB workshops empower our students to be self-directed learners. The idea of being self-directed normally applies to all informal learning experiences that are initiated by someone who wants to know something. For example, I am a self-directed learner several nights a week when I’m looking for a recipe on the internet to get a new idea for supper. Students in our workshops are naturally self-directed because the workshop content is around their areas of interest and the pace is determined by the student. Additionally, IOB students are encouraged to be resourceful, using the human and technological resources available to them to get the answers they need for improving their creations.
Positive Outcomes & Future Possibilities
Understanding the outcomes of using a computer is the first step toward making informed decisions about spending time with technology. At Islands of Brilliance, we are committed to making sure that your student is making the most of the online workshop experience and that time spent online is meaningful, engaging, and creative. For us, the technology is just the vehicle we use to foster human connections and show our students that the learning they do at IOB empowers them to explore what’s possible for their futures.
