Arrays of Symbols: Mixing it Up for the Sake of Comprehension
3/16/2016 3:55 PM
Sometimes a teacher asks the learner to select a symbol from an array consisting of symbols for nothing but preferred items, and immediately gives the learner the item corresponding to the chosen symbol. The problem with this approach is that it really doesn’t make much difference which symbol the learner chooses, if he likes all of the available options. He is learning how to make the motor response required to indicate a symbol, but doesn’t need to pay much attention to the individual symbols. In fact, he may not even notice that the symbols are different, much less what each one means. To remedy this problem, we can "mix it up" in terms of what sort of symbols go into the array from which the learner chooses. For instance, perhaps you could insert into the array a few "distractor" symbols such as:
Non-preferred symbols. Try including in the choices at least one choice that the learner doesn't like. If she chooses the nonpreferred item, give it to her. Now the importance of the choice is heightened, since choosing the non-preferred symbol is not nearly as pleasant as choosing the preferred one.
"Nothing" symbols. For some individuals, a "nothing" symbol may be a good option. The "nothing" symbol is an abstract shape or a blank picture card that is never associated with any referent. When the learner chooses this symbol, he gets "nothing", and the choice starts over again after a minute or so of doing nothing. In this way, the individual learns that it makes a difference which symbol he chooses, but the task is made easier, because he only has to learn to avoid the "nothing" symbol. In addition to learning to discriminate between symbols, the individual also learns at this point how to use symbols to communicate a choice - in this case a choice between something and nothing.
The attached photo is a book with 3-dimensional symbols for snack items, some of which this particular learner didn't like, but most of which he did like.
See Tangible Symbol Systems, 2nd Ed. (2000) by C. Rowland & P. Schweigert for further information on this topic.
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