LOCAL TEACHER WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Barwon Valley School teacher Chris Benke has won a national Learning Difficulties Australia Award for her work in using learning technologies to develop literacy skills in students with special needs. Her approach, Talking Books, creates multi-media programs that incorporate digital photos and recorded speech to make motivating and educational programs.

The award recognises an individual who has made a continuing innovative contribution in the education of children with special needs.

Chris has this year extended the scope of her talking books program to address the needs and interests of children in the middle years of schooling - CaBS, Computer Aided Books for Students, complements and extends the Talking Books program for early years students.

Though Chris' current work is for Barwon Valley School students, her approach has implications for students with learning difficulties in any educational setting and is used by many other special schools in Victoria.

The award will be presented at the University of Melbourne on Saturday 7th September.

Our school is featured again in 'Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities', Volume 6 Number 1 2001 (pp.28-29).

The article talks about our 'Literacy Program at Barwon Valley School'.

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