Boulder alumna Bonnie Sizer recently finished a two week workshop with the Boulder Valley iStar Bridge to Success Program as an iStar Program Facilitator.
iStar is an interest-focused, strengths-based and family-centered technology education program, developed by the University of Utah, that provides youth with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) learning opportunities to realize their full potential across the life course. The program uses Trimble SketchUp, a 3-D design software, to support personal development, social engagement, and vocational readiness for students with ASD. iStar is an educational program designed to provide these students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills through technology, work and socialize with their peers, and discover how their skills and natural abilities can potentially translate into jobs.
After just one week I was able to see students get more comfortable with each other, improve their SketchUp skills and gain a self-confidence boost. – Bonnie Sizer
The workshop ran during the weeks of June 15th and 22nd from 9am-12pm, Monday through Friday. Bonnie worked with students and young adults on the autism spectrum at Platt Middle School.
As a Post-BA Teacher Licensure Program Candidate of Social Studies in Secondary Education, Bonnie was invited to apply to the iStar program while fulfilling her practicum hours at Temple Grandin School. Once accepted, she went through facilitator training, which covered the ABC model of behavior monitoring and included Trimble SketchUp training from a Universal theme park designer. Bonnie described her training as “very interesting and informative,” leaving her excited to “grab this opportunity by the horns.”
This summer’s workshop participants proved to be the largest and most age-diverse group that the University of Utah’s iStar program has ever worked with! Bonnie's enthusiasm and fondness for this program seems to be shared by all those involved.
My favorite part of the workshop was connecting with the students and parents. Even if the kids didn't show it, this workshop obviously means so much to them; they work so hard. It also clearly means so much to the parents to see their children succeeding and to hear so much positive feedback about them.
Alongside what Bonnie has learned through the School of Education's Post-BA Teacher Licensure Program, she feels that this summer experience has prepared her for her future as an educator.
I can already see both of these trainings and what I've learned in this fantastic workshop impacting my future career as a social studies teacher in the way that I differentiate for neurodiverse students in my classroom and encourage them to develop their strengths. I have gained a new framework for thinking about behaviors, as well as ideas for implementing 3D design into my future classes.