ERIC Number: EJ888951
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 32
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
Efficacy of Teachtown: Basics Computer-Assisted Intervention for the Intensive Comprehensive Autism Program in Los Angeles Unified School District
Whalen, Christina; Moss, Debbie; Ilan, Aaron B.; Vaupel, Manya; Fielding, Paul; MacDonald, Kevin; Cernich, Shannon; Symon, Jennifer
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v14 n3 p179-197 2010
Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) has shown increased popularity recently and there are many studies showing promise for this approach for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, there are no between-subject studies to date assessing the efficacy of CAI with this population. In this study, 47 preschool and K-1 students in ASD classrooms participated from Los Angeles Unified School District. "TeachTown: Basics", a CAI program which also includes supplementary off-computer activities, was implemented over 3 months for approximately 20 minutes per day on the computer and 20 minutes per day in supplementary "TeachTown: Basics" activities. Compared to the students in the control group, the "TeachTown: Basics" students showed more improvement overall on language and cognitive outcome measures. In addition, students who used "TeachTown: Basics" demonstrated significant progress overall in the software and those students who used the program for more time demonstrated larger gains within the software and in outcome measures. Although not conclusive, these findings offer possibilities for the use of CAI for remediating many deficits for children with ASD and other special needs. In addition, CAI may offer solutions to schools and parents with insufficient funds for more expensive treatments. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Educational Technology, Autism, Computer Assisted Instruction, Computer Software, Special Needs Students, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Program Effectiveness, Elementary School Students, Preschool Children, Comparative Analysis, Cognitive Development, Language Skills, Blended Learning
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Grade 1; Kindergarten; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: California

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