Sporting Memories Australia Online has been launched
2nd May 2022
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It’s still early days in the introduction of the Supporting Success Stamp Cards with students at Adelaide West Special Education Centre, however we’re already seeing positive outcomes! A Success Stamp Card is an individualised card with goals specific to each student that we stamp off as they’re achieved each week, during our sessions with the student. We initially developed the cards as a tool for students to work toward goals, as well as having a tangible record of their achievements.
We often find that ‘rewards’ in a sport setting generally involve competitiveness and team collaboration. However, these factors are not typically motivational to individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum, therefore it’s important their achievements are measured and recognised in different ways. As Autism exists on a spectrum, the goals on our Success Stamp Cards also exist on a spectrum, ensuring each card is as unique as the student it belongs to. |
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Transition
Since implementation we’ve witnessed additional benefits to the cards than we initially expected. We end each session by bringing out the cards and stamps, presenting them to the students, and reflecting on their experience of the session with their coach who has worked with them throughout the session. This signals to students that the current session is over and eases their transition into the next activity for their day.
Reflection
When reflecting on their sessions, students are asked what activities they participated in that session, how they felt about them, and what goals they believe they achieved. This provides the opportunity for social engagement with their coaches, reflection on their session, and to self-identify their achievements. Further, this provides direct feedback from the students that we can use in conjunction with teacher feedback to modify the activities.
Skills
The coach the student worked with during the sports session helps them to reflect on their time during session, which often leads to students reading and reciting the card goals, and therefore improving their literacy skills. Once they’ve identified the goals they achieved that day, they’re then given a choice of stamp colour. This may seem insignificant, however the choice provides another interaction and decision-making opportunity, as well as providing the student with their choice of reward as a result of achieving their goal.
Motivator
As we returned to sessions in term 3, the Success Stamp Cards were instantly recognised as a reason to persist with sport, as students had taken their term 2 card home to their families. The cards were slightly visually modified to ensure students were excited to see new cards and goals, while remaining familiar with the concept.
We expect to continue to find more benefits of the Success Stamp Cards as the year progresses, however, a benefit that should not be overlooked is the sense of pride students have displayed. When provided their card in the second session of term 3, some students were beaming with smiles (look at some of those wonderful smiles below!). While the cards present an opportunity to reflect on their Supporting Success session, the goals stamped off from previous weeks serve as a reminder to the student of their ongoing accomplishments and achievements. As they see the card fill with stamps it provides them with a visual reminder that they have achieved, and will continue to achieve, amazing things.
Since implementation we’ve witnessed additional benefits to the cards than we initially expected. We end each session by bringing out the cards and stamps, presenting them to the students, and reflecting on their experience of the session with their coach who has worked with them throughout the session. This signals to students that the current session is over and eases their transition into the next activity for their day.
Reflection
When reflecting on their sessions, students are asked what activities they participated in that session, how they felt about them, and what goals they believe they achieved. This provides the opportunity for social engagement with their coaches, reflection on their session, and to self-identify their achievements. Further, this provides direct feedback from the students that we can use in conjunction with teacher feedback to modify the activities.
Skills
The coach the student worked with during the sports session helps them to reflect on their time during session, which often leads to students reading and reciting the card goals, and therefore improving their literacy skills. Once they’ve identified the goals they achieved that day, they’re then given a choice of stamp colour. This may seem insignificant, however the choice provides another interaction and decision-making opportunity, as well as providing the student with their choice of reward as a result of achieving their goal.
Motivator
As we returned to sessions in term 3, the Success Stamp Cards were instantly recognised as a reason to persist with sport, as students had taken their term 2 card home to their families. The cards were slightly visually modified to ensure students were excited to see new cards and goals, while remaining familiar with the concept.
We expect to continue to find more benefits of the Success Stamp Cards as the year progresses, however, a benefit that should not be overlooked is the sense of pride students have displayed. When provided their card in the second session of term 3, some students were beaming with smiles (look at some of those wonderful smiles below!). While the cards present an opportunity to reflect on their Supporting Success session, the goals stamped off from previous weeks serve as a reminder to the student of their ongoing accomplishments and achievements. As they see the card fill with stamps it provides them with a visual reminder that they have achieved, and will continue to achieve, amazing things.