This information is from the powerpoint for "Step by Step" presentations -- click here for an article with more detail, and click here for an interactive workshop covering the material.
Step by Step: Systematic Cane Instruction and Assessment
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Dr. Gene Bourquin, COMS
OUTLINE OF SESSION:
- Importance of cane skills
- Cane skills to be acquired
- Stages of learning the cane
- Assessing student’s level of learning cane
- Principles of learning / focus of instruction for each stage
- Suggestions for acquisition of skills (brainstorming!)
IMPORTANCE OF CANE SKILLS
Cane instruction in O&M programs is both over-rated and under-rated.
- Over-rated: Warren Bledsoe maintained that use of the cane was the only important skill in O&M.
- Under-rated: Some instructors demonstrate correct cane technique to students, and then move on to other skills.
CANE SKILLS TO BE ACQUIRED
When cane instruction is insufficient, student may not learn to use it for full protection:
- Out of step
- Hand not centered
- Failure to achieve consolidation
- faulty cane technique whenever distracted
- Vision overrides cane information
- may miss hazards; precarious balance at stairs
- Side-steps / anchors cane to obstacles
- insufficient preview of hazards
- Fails to pass obstacle or curb before turning
Therefore: necessary cane skills to acquire:
- skillful movement of cane with consolidation
- hand/arm movement; tip arc; rhythm; in step
- notice obstacles / stairs even with misleading vision / expectations
- negotiate obstacles
-- walks only in "previewed” space
- return to line of travel only after passing obstacle
- negotiate stairs (uses efficient sensory information rather than insufficient vision)
STAGES OF LEARNING THE CANE
1. Beginner
-- acquiring skill
2. Concentration
-- uses correct technique when concentrating
3. Consolidation
-- uses correct technique without concentration
4. Proficiency
-- notices and negotiates obstacles / stairs
ASSESSING STUDENT'S LEVEL OF LEARNING CANE
1. BEGINNER
To assess level of learning:
- The student does not consistently move cane correctly without prompts or corrections, even when concentrating
2. CONCENTRATION
To assess level of learning:
- The student can move cane correctly without feedback or correction when concentrating.
- The cane technique will often deteriorate with any disruption of concentration (even praise from the instructor, or when the student starts thinking about something else!).
To test: while the student is using the cane correctly, distract the student with a question and see if cane technique deteriorates.
3. CONSOLIDATION
To assess level of learning:
- When the student's concentration is interrupted, or when doing other tasks (such as working on orientation or noticing echolocation) there is NO deterioration of the cane technique.
To test: while the student is using the cane correctly and the instructor distract the student with a question, the cane technique continues correctly.
- However, even though the cane is being moved correctly, student may not consistently notice cane information, especially with distracting/conflicting visual information
4. PROFICIENCY
To assess level of learning:
- The student moves the cane correctly without concentration AND
- the student notices unexpected obstacles / stairs, even with distracting/misleading vision
PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING / FOCUS OF INSTRUCTION FOR EACH STAGE
1. BEGINNER
In this level of learning, the student:
- needs feedback / correction
- needs practice while concentrating only on cane technique
Teaching principles / focus of training:
- Isolate skills when needed, such as working on rhythm alone before integrating it into the cane technique.
- Avoid "interference" of skills practice.
Learning a second, similar skill just after practice can reduce or eliminate benefits of practicing the first skill.
- To facilitate consolidation, use "distributed practice" so student has time to process and integrate the skills learned.
Rather than have all the practice in one long marathon, break up the practice into short sessions separated with other activities, such as practicing other unrelated skills
Remember, practicing other skills that are related to the first skill could interfere with the improvement in the first skill
- To improve speed / accuracy:
- Provide intermittent feedback
(frequent in beginning, fading to less).
- have practice sessions separated by overnight / sleep
2. CONCENTRATION
In this level of learning the student:
- needs to be allowed to concentrate on cane technique while practicing
- does not need correction / feedback
Teaching principles / focus of training:
- Same as "Beginner” level of learning
3. CONSOLIDATION
In this level of learning the student:
- can concurrently work on other skills / orientation
- needs practice noticing obstacles / stairs (especially when distracted/misled with vision)
Teaching principles / focus of training:
- Assess / improve proprioception;
- Assess / improve ability to override misleading expectations and visual information
- Increase attention / sensitivity to cane information
- Develop skills to negotiate contacted obstacles / stairs
4. PROFICIENCY
In this level of learning the student:
- can notice unexpected obstacles / stairs, even with distracting/misleading vision
- occasionally needs assessment / correction of cane technique when using cane in new terrain
Teaching principles / focus of training:
- Refine skills to negotiate contacted obstacles / stairs if not already proficient
SUGGESTIONS FOR ACQUISITION OF SKILLS (brainstorming!)
During presentations, this part of the session was devoted to brainstorming ideas from the audience, and each session provided a plethora of great ideas!
For some of the topics, I shared my own suggestions.
The teaching challenges that were discussed (including links to some of my own suggestions) were:
- Moving cane in rhythm and "in step”
- Keeping hand centered
- Sensitivity to cane at drop-off
Suggestions: focus on
- Negotiate contacted obstacles safely
- Resume travel after passing obstacle without tripping
Click here for my suggestions
- Override expectations / visual misinformation
Click here for suggestions using:
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