Written lessons are used in the process described in our instructional videos to teach nonspeakers how to type.
Currently, we offer lessons in English, Spanish, and French. More languages on the way soon!
Lesson Question Types
In C4A Academy Lessons, there are five main categories of questions, in addition to activities. Each serves different purposes, and you will focus on certain question types more than others depending on where your typer is on their communication journey. Here is a brief explanation of each.
Green: SPELL Words & Known Questions
SPELL Words are simply words that your typer will spell out on their stencil(s), letterboard, sensory board, or keyboard (referred to as “device”). They may be Keywords, which are CAPITALIZED words taken from the previous paragraph that you as the Communication Partner spell out both verbally and write on your Keywords list, or they may be other important words in the lesson’s paragraph. The purpose of SPELL Words is simply to practice the gross motor skill of pointing to each of the letters in the word accurately, because both you and your typer know exactly which word you are typing. Because of this, SPELL Words are the least cognitively-intensive question type. We put SPELL Words first in each set of questions as an example of the simplest questions, and/or as a warm-up if your typer is a bit more experienced. Please focus on SPELL Words when your nonspeaker is very new to typing to communicate. (If your typer is answering Complex Semi-Open or Open Questions with ease, feel free to skip SPELL Words, as they will likely be boring or too simple for your typer at that point. More on that below.)
Known Questions are questions which only have one correct answer, which is listed in ALL CAPS after the question. The answer, explicitly stated in the paragraph above, is sometimes a Keyword, but not always. Known Questions can be asked throughout a typer’s communication journey, but feel free to focus less on them as your typer advances.
Orange: Semi-Open Questions
Semi-Open Questions are questions that have more than one correct answer. The possible answers may be single words or phrases. Semi-Open Questions are more cognitively-intensive than Known Questions, because your typer first has to think which answer they want to type, then actually type it. Semi-Open Questions can range widely in complexity, from Simple Semi-Opens (two or three answer possibilities, usually each one word or short phrases) to Complex Semi-Opens (many potential words, phrases, or even sentences). After all Semi-Open Questions, we list possible correct answers, but that list is not always exhaustive, especially for Complex Semi-Opens. If the list contains an “etc.” at the end of it, that means that there may be other correct answers besides the ones listed. Focus on Semi-Open Questions when your typer is fluent in Known Questions. Start with Simple Semi-Opens, and gradually introduce more Complex Semi-Opens once your typer is fluent in Simple Semi-Opens. Please refer to our More on Semi-Open Questions, From Simple to Complex Semi-Opens, and Complex Semi-Open Questions instructional videos for more details.
Purple: Number Questions
Number Questions have (you guessed it!) numbers as answers. Hold up the number stencil or letterboard when asking Number Questions. Number Questions may ask for specific numbers explicitly mentioned in the lesson, such as quantities or years, or they may ask the typer to perform mathematical equations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Number Questions can and should be asked all throughout a typer’s communication journey. Number Questions that involve math problems are more cognitively-intensive than ones that simply ask for a number by itself, so we advise beginning with simple Number Questions before advancing to ones with math problems. For Number Questions involving math, please encourage the typer to show their work by typing out both the equation and the final answer.
Blue: Prior Knowledge Questions
Prior Knowledge Questions are questions where the answer was not explicitly stated in the lesson, but the typer may (or may not) know the answer anyway. Prior Knowledge Questions are related to the lesson material in a tangential, expansive way. Prior Knowledge Questions may have only one correct answer (similar to Known Questions), or they may have more than one correct answer (similar to Semi-Open Questions). After all Prior Knowledge Questions, we list possible correct answer(s), but that list is not always exhaustive in cases where there is more than one correct answer (if the list contains an “etc.” at the end). Prior Knowledge Questions can and should be asked while the typer is answering Semi-Open Questions. “I DON’T KNOW” is always an acceptable answer to Prior Knowledge Questions.
Red: VAKTivities
The acronym VAKT stands for Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Tactile. These activities are meant to deepen the typer’s and their communication partner’s understanding of the lesson material through various sensory experiences (sights, sounds, touch, movement, etc.). Examples of VAKTivities could be watching a video, listening to a song or sound, doing a craft, drawing, tracing, studying or interacting with an image, doing a movement exercise, and more. VAKTivities are not usually questions in and of themselves that your typer would necessarily answer on their device, but they are there to bring the lesson material to life, and make the lesson more interesting, interactive, and fun. They are not required, but they are recommended, especially if your typer is enthusiastic about the lesson material. We strive to make VAKTivities as accessible for everyone as possible. We recommend asking your typer if they are interested in doing a VAKTivity before beginning it.
Pink: Open Questions
Open Questions have an infinite number of answers. Like Semi-Open Questions, Open Questions also range widely in complexity of possible answers. Answers may be one word, multiple words, a phrase, or multiple sentences, depending on the lesson context and what your typer wants to communicate. Open Questions should only be asked when your typer has shown fluency in answering Complex Semi-Open Questions. We recommend starting with Open Questions where a one-word answer is possible, then moving on to Open Questions that expect at least one phrase or sentence as an answer, which is more conversational. Open Questions in Lessons are the bridge to open communication, the ultimate goal for all typers and their communication partners. Please refer to our Open Communication and More on Open Communication instructional videos for more details.