Community Based Instruction (CBI)

[Dr. Myers]

In our EDSE 535 class, we've been discussing how CBI can be useful in helping kids transition in b/n grades and to post-secondary options after highschool. What are your experiences with Community Based Instruction? Is it more helpful for certain students? Do you find some teachers like it more than others? Do you get to use CBI or have they been discouraged in your school system due to budget cuts?

[CS]

I feel that community based instruction is good if the community member knows what to expect. For example, I just had a gentleman come in that the kids loved who talked about working in the Marine Corp - all three jobs that he performed of the 20 year span he was in - then talked about his civillian job as a web designer and computer tech IT person. He was very open to answering any questions, even some slightly personal such as 'did you miss your family when you went to war?' and also very good at bringing the students into the conversation by asking them what they would like to do when they graduate school. He was asked ahead of time to talk on careers and told that the kids are very nervous and shy so he sat down with them rather than standing at the head of the class and led more of a round-table discussion, then helped with our class project for the day.

However, as great as he was I have also had some disappointments, for example when a DJ/Camera Operator came in he did not do a speech at all and instead just asked if the kids had questions- dead silence. The kids did not know where to start - so never did. I did ask them to explain what DJ's do, but he assumed that the kids would know, so........

In summary, really go over with your guest what to expect beforehand -it is possible without telling any personal information!

[Shana]

My first experience with CBI was part of EDSE 535. Since I teach students with learning disabilities, it is very rare, if ever that a CBI would be planned for my students. I believe that CBI's can be beneficial to all students as they teach real-life skills and how one would act or respond in sitations that are outside of school. What I find is that the only teachers that are afforded the opportunity to do a CBI are teachers of students with mental retardation. I am unaware if our district's budget cuts have effected these type of programs, but I would assume so.

Is there a reason why LD teachers don't or can't do CBI's?