Improving Social Communication and Social Interaction Skills in Students with Autism-Spectrum Disorder through Smart-Board Use

Abstract

Many students with autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) suffer from problems with social communication and social interaction, which inhibit their academic and personal lives. This research has evaluated the effectiveness of a training program that used the smart board (SB) to improve social communication and interaction skills in a sample of 20 students with ASD, aged 8–13. Ten of those students underwent the training program, constituting the experimental group, while the other 10 who did not undergo training, serve as the control group. The study employed a quasi-experimental approach using components, both developed by the researchers of this study: the training program just described and social communication and a social- interactive skills scale (SCSISS). The results showed a difference (p>0.05) between the experimental and the control groups on the SCSISS in the post-test (i.e., post-training test) in favour of the experimental group. There was furthermore a difference (p>0.05) between the experimental group on the SCSISS in the pre-test and in the post-test in favour of the post-tests. There was no difference between the experimental group on the SCSISS in the post-test and in the follow-up tests. Thus, the study’s findings suggest that the use of the SB should be expanded in the Autism Institute and integration schools, due to its significant benefit in improving social communication and social-interaction skills in students with ASD.