Developing mental imagery using a digital camera: a study of adult vocational training

This study was undertaken to explore the use of a digital camera for mental imagery training of a vocational task with two young adult men with Down syndrome. The results indicate that these particular men benefited from the use of a collaborative training process that involved mental imagery for learning a series of photocopying operations. An outline of a mental imagery assessment method is provided along with a description of the training procedures that were used in the study. Mental imagery was taught and rehearsed by means of a Powerpoint computer presentation. Trainers and participants worked collaboratively to complete a task analysis and to take photos of each person performing the operations correctly. Through the use of self-modelling and feed forward, participants were able to learn from observing their own actions and, in particular, to learn from 'successes' that they have not yet had. On the basis of this pilot study, it is proposed that mental imagery training is an important new approach for collaborative training, especially for individuals whose language systems are not well developed. There is a need, however, for further investigation into the role of mental imagery as this relates to memory, self-regulation and metacognition.