International Institute for The Brain (iBRAIN)

The course is built to test the baseline knowledge of participants. Participants will rate their knowledge on their current understanding on sensory regulation, and its application in care provision. Students will take a pre-knowledge test and a reflective activity on sensory awareness. This introductory course will teach participants about the basics of sensory processing and will provide strategies to promote optimal regulation and arousal in children. The participants will learn how to use correct terms when referring to various aspects of sensory processing in order to promote effective communication with professionals from various disciplines. They will learn sensory system development, Zones of Regulation, the difference between behavior-motivated tantrums and sensory meltdowns and alerting and regulating strategies that target each sensory system (visual, tactile, auditory, proprioceptive, vestibular, gustatory, and olfactory). It is important for teachers and providers and caregivers to be able to understand how a child’s regulation and sensory processing impact their performance and behavior, and to be able to respond appropriately to help the children remain in the optimal Zone. Sensory-based changes to a child’s affect or engagement in a task are often attributed to behavioral concerns. As participants will learn during the course, behavioral strategies will not be effective in promoting a child’s optimal performance during an activity if their difficulty in fact stems from poor sensory modulation or other sensory concerns. Following the course, students will take a post course assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the course in teaching sensory regulation.