What is it?

The ARASAAC Open Classroom is a repository of quality content related to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC),in which any professional or family canfreely f or or in everything related to documents, free software tools and resources that use
ARASAAC
pictograms.

To access this classroom, it is not necessary to register as a user and you do not have to follow an established schedule. The important thing is that each person is trained in those topics of interest, following their own pace of learning and attending to their training needs at all times.

What are the objectives?

  1. Offer tutorials and video tutorials that explain the operation of the different programs, applications and tools that use the resources of
    ARASAAC,
    as well as the different materials that can be elaborated or adapted from their use.
  2. Present examples of materials developed by the users themselvesl, organized by contents of the area of language, communication and other adapted curricular areas.
  3. Publicize different reference documents in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAA) prepared by prestigious professionals and institutions.
  4. Expand the contents of the ARASAAC

    Youtube channel

    with the incorporation of new video tutorials.

  5. Incorporate quality content in the field of the CAA provided by prestigious professionals from different fields, which complement the contents prepared by the
    ARASAAC
    team.

Where is it framed?

The ARASAAC Open Classroom is part of the ARASAACAction Plan, a project funded by the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Government of Aragon and coordinated by the General Directorate of Innovation and Vocational Training of that department.

60

Video tutorials

17

Programmes

12

AAC Documents

33

Books

Why an Open Classroom?

The idea of ARASAAC Open Classroom emerged at the beginning of the 16-17 academic year due to the widespread demand from institutions, professionals and families, both in Spain and Latin America, for continuous and open training on topics related to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and with the freely distributed computer applications that have been generated from the resources, distributed with a Creative Commons license (BY-NC-SA) in the Aragonese Center for Augmentative and Alternative Communication ARASAAC (
http://arasaac.org/
) – project financed and coordinated by the Government of Aragon-.

Since 2007, ARASAAC has become an Augmentative and Alternative Communication System (AAC) of recognized national and international prestige and, currently, it is used in many countries as a reference AACS and its resources are basic in the adaptation and development of materials for people with serious difficulties in communication and with functional diversity (autism, intellectual disability, aphasia, etc.).

Apart from the materials, ARASAAC’s own Creative Commons license has favored the appearance of free applications for PC and mobile devices with a very contrasted quality and that have helped the extension of the project.

Word processors with pictograms (AraWord), applications to elaborate boards and communication materials (Picto Selector), communicators for mobile devices (AraBoard, Pictodroid Lite, Letmetalk, CPA), generators of personalized agendas to work on anticipation (PictogramAgenda), etc., are applications used daily by the entire educational community, although we must also affirm ARASAAC has made the leap to other very important areas such as health (adaptation of protocols with pictograms or use of communicators by people with strokes) or the signage of public spaces by many municipalities.

Although all these computer resources have been developed according to the greatest usability for the end user, it is true that there is a widespread demand for training to learn how to use them and get the most out of each of them.

Therefore, within the trajectory you have followed ARASAAC throughout these years, the authors of this project, we believe that it is a responsibility that we must assume to offer quality training content on topics related to AAC resources and, at the same time, prevent other people from making lucrative business from these resources through online courses with content related to ARASAAC and the resources generated from the project.

In this Virtual Classroom also underlies the original philosophy of the project: “communication is a right for all people”. Therefore, it seems appropriate to offer training to any person or professional who needs it to care for their student or their child. Well-trained people will guarantee adequate attention to people who need these resources to improve their quality of life.