11 Community Based Instruction
Definition: Instruction taking place in the typical place of occurrence within the community (e.g., grocery store)
Rationale: CBI can offer authentic learning experiences for both increased task motivation and experience in the actual environment when the task is performed. Practicing skills in the natural context can help increase familiarity with all the aspects of performing the skill in a generalized setting.
Ways to Support Students:
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- Use an ecological inventory (e.g., assessment of skills needed in a particular context) to identify skills needed in regularly accessed community environments.
- Identify relevant and important community settings for instruction through discussion with the student, their family, and their classmates.
- Make use of task analysis, visual supports, and simulation practice to help prepare students for learning in community settings.
- Often it’s best to focus learning and instruction on one task at a time in the setting and allow time for the student to get used to the environment
- Continue practicing the skills from CBI in simulated settings or through discussing task analysis steps.
Case Study
Student: Grade 10 student
Content: Finding the best price on an item in the grocery store
Problem: The student is having difficulty selecting the best priced item
Solution: After practice at school, the teacher takes the class to the local grocery store to practice the task analysis steps for identifying item prices and finding the lowest cost.
Professional Resources:
- Teachers’ guide to setting up community based instruction from the Florida Department of Education: http://project10.info/Documents/CBI_Guide_updated_12.5.18_QR_8.10.22.pdf
- Description of CBI benefits from Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project: https://www.unr.edu/ndsip/english/resources/tips/benefits-of-community-based-instruction
- San Diego Unified School District procedures for implementing a CBI program: https://cdnsm5-ss18.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_27969304/File/Departments/Special%20Education/Procedures%20Manual%20and%20Resources/46.%20Curriculum%20and%20Mod/(CBI)/Community%20Based%20Instruction%20Manual.pdf
- Definition and considerations for CBI: https://www.aiu3.net/Page/2205
