This study used a multiple probe across participants design to (a) evaluate the use of system of least prompts to teach students to self-instruct and (b) evaluate the use of a mobile device for a video activity schedule of a functional daily living skill. In baseline, the classroom teacher asked participants to make a snack and collected performance data. In the technology training condition, the teacher implemented a system of least prompts procedure to teach participants to initiate use of the mobile device, navigate to a training video activity schedule, pause/play videos of training tasks, and perform the modeled training tasks. After meeting criterion in technology training, the classroom teacher evaluated participant performance making a snack following use of a mobile device to self-instruct using a video activity schedule. Participant technology use was still assessed but not included in criterion. All four participants learned to independently initiate and navigate the mobile device during technology training. Three participants self-instructed using the video activity schedule to independently make a snack.

The purpose of this review was to systematically analyze the literature on behavior management training for general educators (Pre-K-12). We identified 74 articles in which general educators were trained to implement a behavior management strategy. General educators were most commonly trained to implement behavior-specific praise ( n = 12), Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams ( n = 8), or a multi-component intervention package (i.e., a student-level intervention that included a number of strategies; n = 21). The two most common training components were initial training provided in a one-on-one format ( n = 30) and the inclusion of ongoing coaching ( n = 29). Thirty-nine articles included measures of practitioner fidelity or discrete behaviors (e.g., behavior-specific praise) within the context of an experimental design. We evaluated methodological rigor and evidence of effectiveness of these 39 articles using What Works Clearinghouse standards. Eleven articles included group design studies, nine (81.82%) of which met standards with or without reservations, and four designs had promising evidence of effectiveness. Twenty-eight articles included a total of 49 single-case research designs, of which 27 designs (55.10%) met standards with or without reservations, and 23 designs provided moderate to strong evidence of effectiveness. Directions for future research and implications for the field are provided.

This study evaluated the effects of progressive time delay (PTD) to teach four elementary students with intellectual disability on how to self-instruct using a video activity schedule. A single-case multiple probe across participants design with a multiple probe across environments design for each participant was used to assess the generalization of the self-instruction behavior to novel environments. All participants acquired the self-instruction behavior in their target environments. One participant generalized this behavior to a novel environment by the completion of the study, and the other three participants required introduction of the independent variable (PTD) to master acquisition in the two generalization environments. Implications for practitioners and suggestions for effective programming of generalization in future research are discussed.

Functional behavior assessment is a process that should have precedence in addressing behaviors that impact a student’s learning or the learning of others. A rigorous, comprehensive, and beneficial functional behavior assessment requires involvement from multiple school personnel who may have frequent contact with the student, such as general educators. However, general educators are often not trained to participate in the process. This review of the literature was conducted to identify training practices that have been used with general educators to conduct elements of a functional behavior assessment or implement interventions linked to findings from the assessment. The methodological rigor and evidence of effectiveness of studies that met inclusion criteria were evaluated using What Works Clearinghouse guidelines. Commonalities between training practices are provided. The number of studies that met criteria to be included in this review is limited and presents variable findings, but should draw attention to the need for empirically supported training packages aimed at preparing general educators to participate in the process. Doing so can help promote a school’s legal and humanistic obligation to meeting the unique needs of students who engage in problematic behavior.

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