IMET - Theory of Mind

Theory of mind (ToM) is a multidimensional construct that involves a person's ability to recognize emotions in oneself and others, and attribute mental states to oneself and others. These skills develop early, starting in infancy, and develop as the child is exposed to new language and experiences. While we tend to focus on the language of our students, language and ToM are inextricably linked. Theory of mind skills significantly impact how someone communicates, learns, and solves problems, and these skills determine how a student functions socially and academically. We communicate, learn, and solve problems using language. Research will be presented addressing ToM skills of D/deaf and hard of hearing students. Deficits in language and social skills can reflect areas of need in the development of theory of mind. The educational interpreter may be the only one on the team who has direct communication with the student; you know student's language, as well as their communication and academic strategies. You are often providing the missing background knowledge through expansions and presenting information at the student's level in a way the student can process. With an understanding of ToM, we are better able to assess when and why comprehension and communication breakdowns occur, and then can support comprehension and communication repair. With this framework, we have more insight into what is needed to support our student's development of language and academic skills for educational success. This presentation will cover the foundation of ToM development, and the relationship with language, communication, and academic skills. There will be demonstrations to illustrate the concepts, opportunities to practice incorporating the concepts in activities, and assignments that will benefit both educational interpreters and students in their current classroom experience.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe theory of mind as it relates to their student’s communication, language, and academic skills.
• Provide examples of how theory of mind development is reflected their student’s communication, langauge, and academic skills.
• Demonstrate strategies to support the development of theory of mind.
• Establish or attend regular team consultation sessions to discuss student language, communication, and classroom access needs.
• Develop a Theory of Mind & Interpreting Strategies Snapshot to be shared with teachers and specialists.

This self-paced course is designed for independent learners who wish to explore the material at their own pace. There is no facilitator or instructor, and no feedback will be given on assignments. All course materials are provided, allowing participants to manage their own learning experience. Completion is flexible, enabling learners to progress according to their individual schedules and goals.

This course is structured into lessons that are designed to take 2-3 hours each to complete. The anticipated length of the course ranges from 16 to 24 hours. Participants will have up to 120 days to complete the course, otherwise they will automatically be removed and required to re-enroll.