Romania Summary (1) Erasmus (1) Integration of Therapy and Approaches in Special Education for (1)

We have commenced a new project entitled “Integration of Therapy and Approaches in Special Education for Teachers”. Our project partners are from Turkey, North Macedonia, Italy and Romania.

The five topics covered in this project are:

• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Animal Therapy
• Art Therapy

Our project goal is to teach the methods and techniques observed in the different schools. These will be incorporated in each school’s educational systems in lines with the goals and objectives. Through the activities, we aim to improve children’s emotional activation, communication skills as well as physical and mental development.

The first mobility took place in Hatay, Turkey in October. We were delighted for Ms. Gowen, Mr. Murphy and Mary Lehane to attend. Here is an account of what they experienced in Hatay.

Project focus was Applied Behaviour Analysis(ABA ) with the focus on pupils with additional needs which took place in Hatay, Turkey.

Monday evening we arrived to the hotel in Hatay very late after travelling from Istanbul.

22/10/24  Tuesday

Introduction to all participates in the ABA Mobility. Turkey, North Macedonia, Romania and Italy had all sent participants on this mobility too. We had an brief chat to go over the weeks schedule and spent the morning getting to know our colleagues.

We got to visit the local school where our Turkish colleagues were working from. The Hatay Fenerbahceliler Ozel Egitim Anaokulu which was founded in February 2016 provides education to pupils with additional needs. It is a public school that is free to attend, and they even organise transport to collect numerous pupils from their homes to enable them to attend the school.

Regarding CPD (Continuing Professional Developments) opportunities on the day we engaged in numerous tasks with the focus on ABA.   We filled in a questioner to gather our prior knowledge on the topic, we looked at the basic assumptions in behaviour and behaviour control. We also looked at recording and measuring data regarding behaviour in the classroom. We all agreed the importance of this and how it can affect future learning for the pupils. We examined how the local school recorded data in numerous ways and further information regarding this can be found in the folder provided with the PowerPoint and notes attached. 

We finished the day with a culture night in a nearby café where our Turkish colleagues provided us with homemade local cuisine. Each cohort presented/performed a song and dance to the group.

23/10/24 Wednesday

With an understanding of the ABA techniques and how it was recorded and undertaken in the local school we given some scenarios to act out and show the group our understanding of the topic. This task was focused on the different reinforcements strategies that had been shown to us the previous day. Continuous, intermittent & timed rewards and how to enforce/implement them into our classroom. We also looked at unwanted or negative behaviour and how to deal with it in a productive way. Level 1 – Reinforcement of declining behaviour. Rewarding good behaviour. Level 2 -Extinguishing (Withdrawing/not giving reminder) Level 3 – Presenting a break (Withdrawal of positive reinforcement) level 4 -The repulsive student – Punishment .

Prior to lunch Niall presented a PowerPoint to the group displaying the best of Ireland video and showing the fantastic facilities in Watergrasshill NS. We also gave the group a selection of Irish products to taste.

Provided lunch within the café and followed by a cultural visit to the excellent The Museum Hotel Antakya. The Museum/Hotel is built over a Roman historical site and is one of the most exclusive hotels in the city.

In the evening time there was a game of volleyball which was enjoyed by all the members of the trip.

24/10/24 Thursday

We started the day reviewing the previous two days of learning and discussing what our thoughts were on the different methods. We completed the Questioner from day 1 to see how much we had improved our knowledge of ABA. We played bingo games with other participants to encourage chat and engagement among our international peers. It as a fun activity to conclude the week. We had the presentation of certs to all participants.

We were provided lunch again in the Café we had worked from all week. Afterwards we went on a trip to Patara (Lycia) Beach which is 20km of beach near the Syrian border. A hike up to see caves was followed by a visit to a market in a wooded area near by in a small village. Evening meal was fish on another popular beach for fishing.

Later that evening we had the opportunity to play soccer with some locals and staff members.

25/10/24 Friday

Some of the participants had left the previous night hence why the first few days was very educational heavy. We started the day with a trip to a traditional Turkish restaurant with a breakfast buffet. We went on a trip to a forest trial and waterfalls nearby and a further opportunity to go shopping in markets. We finished the day with traditional Turkish desert ( Kunefe). We began our journey home that evening to conclude a fantastic trip with numerous opportunities to learn and grow relationships with colleagues.    

Here is the logo for this Erasmus+ project: