AutismAndTech-Patricia

**How can we integrate technology into the classroom so that it can benefit children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? ** • Academically •Socially •Emotionally Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the second most common developmental disability following mental retardation. Children with autism require special individual attention. These children are either at special schools for students with disabilities or are put in “regular” schools due to inclusion. Since these students often exhibit more than one symptom and need specific assistance, it becomes difficult for teachers to properly attend to them. One-on-one instruction is needed at times, but with constant time restraints and with other students in the class, it becomes overwhelmingly difficult to truly help children with autism. Technology intervention is widely growing as a tool to help these students individually both socially and academically. There is still some uncertainty in using certain kinds of technology to help students with ASD. However, there is plenty of continuing research that encourages and proves that technology intervention is a positive step to help these children in our educational system.

-Difficulty in predicting emotions of others, as well as displaying own emotions, which can often hinder social skills -Delayed speech, or no speech at all- which causes academic issues in front of a big class (fear of being laughed at) -Fear of unpredictability -Content and grammar are one of the most pervasive problems that children encounter  __Inclusion in schools and Time Restraint:__  Inclusion is becoming a large part of the academic setting and more and more schools and requiring that students with mild disorders are placed in a least restrictive environment (which may happen to be a regular classroom). Typically, teachers do not have a chance to interact with students who have an ASD and therefore do not know how to act when they are placed in their classrooms. Students with an ASD often exhibit more than one symptom and it is very difficult for teachers to attend to all of them. Teachers may believe that they need to give one on one instruction, which takes away time from teaching other students and with our constant time restraints, it becomes overwhelmingly difficult to please all students. Therefore, computers can help to provide supplemental instruction in a positive and beneficial way.  __**Personal Connection:**__ My cousin has Autism and I have had the opportunity to see him try to be placed in a public school setting, yet have to be pulled out shortly after. I would watch him struggle with the difficulty of a mainstream classroom and I have always wondered why he was not getting a proper education. **__Best Practices __** **__Computer assisted instruction (CAI): __** <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">CAI is computer assisted instruction; computer interventions have helped social and communicative abnormalities that seem resistant to personal interventions. Successful interventions require repetition, making the task enjoyable, and breaking the task into smaller steps. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">__**<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Benefits: **__ <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #008080; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language; text-align: center; textshadow: autotextShadow;">__**Practical suggestions for teacher’s:**__ <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;"> <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Although computer intervention has been shown to help students with ASD, it is very important that it is teacher-assisted so that students can still be guided through <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">__**<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #008080; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Related Videos: **__ media type="youtube" key="dQ5mPzxfy7g" height="340" width="560" media type="youtube" key="A4ID30FAtls" height="344" width="425" media type="youtube" key="Wei3Ycl9rQ0" height="344" width="425" <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">__**<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #008080; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Useful Resources: **__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Higgins, K., & Boone, R. (1996). Creating individualized computer-assisted instruction for students with autism using multimedia. //Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities//, //11//(2), 69. [|http://search.ebscohost.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu]
 * <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #008080; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">__Why is this important for future teachers?__ ** __Characteristics of ASD:__
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Computer interventions are sometimes questioned because of the social inclusion children may have from their peers and the fact that computer technology is constantly changing, however the benefits definitely outweigh the limitations
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">computers are consistent and predictable because they can be programmed to do what you want; also can be repeated, which helps to reinforce concepts
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Focusing on a computer screen where only necessary info is presented minimizes the difficulty of selecting what is important vs. what is not
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Programs provide explicit routines and clear expectations and encourages engagements by allowing the student to take active control (which they are rarely given)
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Learning environment is immediate and capable of generating interest, which overcomes problems of arousal and attention
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Repetition is very important with computer-based instruction; it allows students with ASD to keep practicing skill until they become comfortable
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Keep computer programs and content predictable
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-fareast-language;">Use these given programs because they have been tested and the results are positive, however it is important that, as a teacher, you still have face-to-face instruction. CAI should be used as a supplement

Educators and parents of children with autism often struggle because there is no single teaching method or intervention guaranteed to work with every student. They must create individual instructional materials for each child. Research has been done and it has been recommended that intensive one-on-one instruction must occur to help this children. Because of this, a computerized instruction has been introduced. This article provides a basis for teachers to create an // individualized // // computer //-based instruction for students with autism using // computer // technologies. Reasoning and research results that demonstrate positive outcomes when using computer technology with these students are supported in the article. This article is very beneficial to support my inquiry question. It provides reasons for why technology, especially computer based technology, can truly help students with autism. Plenty of research backs up the reasons given, making this a reliable source. The research given offers data that can help me develop a well supported position. Another useful aspect of the article is that it introduces specific examples of computer-based technology that teachers can use to help their students. As I develop on this inquiry question, I will research these programs and see exactly how the programs work.

Jacklin, A., & Farr, W. (2005). The computer in the classroom: a medium for enhancing social interaction with young people with autistic spectrum disorders?. //British Journal of Special Education//, //32//(4), 202-210. http://search.ebscohost.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu, doi:10.1111/j.1467-8578.2005.00398.x

One of the main characteristics of people diagnosed with autism is that they have impaired social interaction and communication. This article reported on a project that incorporated computers as a tool to improve social interaction with autistic children. This took place in a school for students with learning difficulties in England and involved twelve autistic children. The study incorporated the computer as a means for these children to socialize together. After intense analysis, the research indicated that the computer is a useful tool for enhancing social interaction with autistic children. The article provides many detailed reasoning to support the results of the research. Since weakened social interaction is a major concern with ASD children, this article does a great job in demonstrating ways to help improve communication. The main source that is used to help these children is a computer, making this specific article very relevant to my inquiry topic. The use of the computer appeared to result in more positive and sustained interaction among autistic children. The research and results presented in this article are excellent because they give clear and detailed information that will help me formulate a strong argument.

Sturmey, P. (2003). Video Technology and Persons with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. //Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions//, //5//(1), 3. [|http://search.ebscohost.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu]

Using video technology among children with disabilities can lead to a variety of positive language, academic, and social outcomes. This article focuses on using video technology with autistic children by addressing new behaviors such as independent, cooperative, and imaginative play; perspective taking; academic skills; and spontaneous requesting. One specific result that this study showed was that video modeling by an adult is useful to teach many imaginative play behaviors to children. Video modeling is used as reinforcement for autistic children because they usually lack understanding the thoughts and feelings of others. By presenting visual models, these students can have a better idea of appropriate behaviors to use when working with others. The article provides a variety of studies that were used to show the benefits of video technology with ASD children. Before this article, I had never thought of video technology as a tool to use with autistic children. But this article provides a range of target behaviors and different methods in which this technology was successfully used to help instigate appropriate behaviors in children with autism. All of the behaviors discussed in the study (independent, cooperative, and imaginative play; perspective taking; academic skills; and spontaneous requesting) are areas that autistic children need help with. The article is very appropriate for my inquiry topic and provides reliable information to support how video technology can help ASD children.