Part+2+-+Group+8

=Group 8 - Part 2 - Chapter 4=

Describe one way to strengthen the characteristic learning needs of students with ASD.
One of the five ways to strengthen the characteristic learning needs of a student with ASD is...

Connecting Actions with Specific Reinforcers - Students connect actions with reinforcers by exploring their physical and social environment. Many ASD students explore their environments in limited ways, therefore they need to learn how to learn. They learn that repeated actions can be associated with pleasant or unpleasant consequences. Often this leads to patterns of challenging behaviour as they lead to a predictable response from the adult. To teach students with ASD to effectively connect an action to a specific reinforcer, the student must learn that ‘if first I do this, then I can get that.’ Once the student understands the ‘first this / then that’ connection, it is possible to teach them more effectively. To be effective, the reinforcer must be something the ASD student wants or enjoys.

What is the process for teaching a new skill or activity?
The process for teaching a new skill or activity involves...

1) Observing the student – observe the student in an environment with many choices for activities. This may need to be outside of the classroom setting. While observing the student, it may help to answer some of the following questions: a. Such as what activities the student enjoys? b. How they are interacting with others and their environment? c. Do they choose age-appropriate activities? d. What sensory sensitivities do they display? e. What are some reinforcers? 2) Prioritize and Prepare: a. Choose and activity or skill to teach. b. Break it into small, manageable parts. c. Select motivators. d. Select reinforcers. e. Select appropriate teaching environment. 3) Teach: a. Show the student the activity and the reinforcer. b. Start with the first step of the task-analyzed sequence. c. Use words, gestures or physical cues (or a combo) to communicate ‘first this / then that’. <span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">d. Prompt as required <span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">e. Reinforce the student (always pair a social reinforcement with a concrete one)