26. Understanding the Classroom Observation Instrument

Speaker: Nancy Steele, M.A., M.Ed.

*This speaker will be presenting in person at the Penn Stater.
**This session is available for in person and virtual attendance.

The Classroom Observation Instrument is designed to help identify model classrooms serving students with severe and profound disabilities including those with deafblindness. The COI is comprised of three main components: (1) teacher interview; (2) student cumulative folder review; and, (3) observation rubric. In this session, we will explore the components of the COI, as well as different uses.

Credits: Act 48, ASHA, ACVREP

Audience: Special Education Teachers; Teachers who work with students who are blind and visually impaired; Teachers who work with students with hearing loss; Teachers who work with students who are Deaf-Blind; Teachers/other professionals who work with students who have sustained traumatic brain injury; Speech therapists; General Education Teachers; Supervisors/Administrators; Assistive Technology Specialists; School Counselors and/or School Psychologists; Parents, Guardians, Family Members

Speaker's Bio:

Nancy Steele is an Educational Consultant, with expertise in children with significant disabilities. She was a Project Specialist for the National Center on Deaf-Blindness for 14 years. She served as the Lead on the Literacy Initiative, which included development of the website “All Children Can Read”. She also worked on the Open Hands, Open Access Intervener Modules. Prior to that, she taught deaf and deaf-blind children in Kentucky for 17 years. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Stuart. Together they have 7 children and 10 grandchildren.