Using Technology to Enhance
Treatment and Increase
Independence
Kaneen Geiger, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Technology
• Technology is advancing quickly and
becoming more easily accessible and more
affordable
• Technology can enhance treatment
• Not a good substitute for a live expert
• Many variables to consider before choosing
the right type of technology
• This presentation will focus on:
• Video modeling
• Smart phone/tablet apps
What is Video Modeling?
What is Video Modeling?
Communication Skills
• Initiations
• Conservational interactions
Social Skills
• Giving & receiving compliments
• Taking perspectives of others
Play Skills
• Imaginative play
• Play-related statements
Daily Living Skills
• Purchasing items
• Self-care skills
Vocational Skills
• Advertising as a retail mascot
• Requesting help to complete vocational tasks
Who will Benefit from Video Modeling?
• Sit quietly and pay attention to
an instructor
• Imitation skills
• Match 2D pictures to 3D
objects
• Delayed imitation & delayed
matching
Who will NOT Benefit from Video
Modeling?
Why Use Video Modeling?
• Multiple presentations of the same skill
• Consistent, accurate demonstration of the skill
• Minimize practical limitations
When is it Best to Use Video Modeling?
• You have multiple children who may benefit
• You need to enhance certain features of a model
• You need to increase learning opportunities
• You have access to technology
Features of a Good Video Model
» Clearly demonstrate the target behavior
» Clearly show the steps without skipping or speeding
through
» Eliminate distracting stimuli
» Show the behavior occurring in the right context
» Only show the target behavior or non-examples of the
target behavior
» Show multiple examples of the behavior
Options for Finding Good Video
Models
• Free Video Models
• Purchase Video Models
• Create Video Models
Free Video Models
• Pros:
No cost
Don’t have to film the videos
• Cons:
May find videos that are not appropriate
May take a long time to find the right videos
The right model for the child may not exist
May need access to the Internet
Purchasing Video Models
• Pros:
Saves time
Created for people with developmental disabilities
Includes a large library
• Cons:
Expensive
Compatibility problems with the video player
The right model for the child may not exist
Creating Your Own Video Models
• Pros:
The video can be customized for a specific target
behavior
The child or a familiar person can act as the model
The target behavior can be filmed in the exact context
or environment
• Cons:
Money to purchase equipment and software
Time to video tape and edit the videos
Technical experience to edit the videos
May require more than one person to film
What Will You Use to Show the Video?
• Smart phones
• iPad/tablet
• Computers
• Portable DVD
players
• TVs
Planning to Show the Video
Things to Consider
• Display size
• Audio volume
• Sturdiness & durability of the video player
• Protection from task materials
• Distraction by other purposes of the device
• Video file format compatibility
• Person controlling the video player
• Video presentation during the behavior
Things to Consider
• Portable devices
Plenty of battery life or a power source
• Internet access
• Minimize environmental distractions
When and How Many Times Will
the Video be Shown?
• Multiple times per day or week
• Multiple times before asking the person to imitate
• Immediately before the behavior
• During the behavior
How much time will pass between
watching and doing?
• Less wait time is better
• Watch the video while doing the skill
What will you do if your child makes an
error?
• Provide error-correction prompts
• Re-present the video and provide prompts
• Pause the video and back-up one step
How will you reward correct
performance?
• Choose the reward/reinforcers
• Determine how you will deliver the reinforcer
• Determine how often the reinforcer will be
delivered
Video Modeling - summary
• Useful tool for teaching new skills for kids
who have prerequisite skills
• Multiple options for accessing or creating
video models
21
Smart Phones & Tablets
22
Why use smart phones & tablets?
• Many children enjoy it
• Portability
• Hundreds of apps
• Easy to access
• Free or low cost options
• Autism Speaks – list of autism friendly apps
• http://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps
Things to Consider
• Cost
• Battery life or access to power source
• Durability
• Most models are not shock proof or water
proof
What skills can be taught with apps
Communication Skills
• Receptive language
• AAC applications
Social Skills
• Social rules and situations
Self-management
• Schedules, reminders, routines
• Functional skills
Academic Skills
• Math
• Reading
Things to consider
• Do you need to teach your child how to use
or navigate the device?
• Are there distracting features to the device?
• Do you want your child to only use the skill
with the app?
Teaching iPad use
Slide 2 Unlock
by RJ Cooper & Associates, Inc.
Dexteria – Fine Motor Skill Development
by Binary Labs Inc.
Color Dots & Dot Collector
by Ellie’s Games LLC
Fruit Ninja HD
by Halfbrick Studios
Information from Gloria Rodriguez-Gil and Cristi Mercedes Saylor of Curlew Apps.
http://curlewapps.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/teaching-children-to-use-an-ipad-part-onegestures/ July, 2013
Application Restrictions
• Application Restrictions
• Limits access to specific applications or
functions
• Guided Access
• Temporarily restricts to one app and disables
some buttons (e.g., “home” button)
•
Search online for instructions specific to your operating device
Making sure your child can do the
skill outside of the app
• Not all apps are made for kids with autism
• Apps are designed to be colorful & engaging
• Songs & Sound effects
• Animations
• Make sure your child can do the skill without
the smart phone or tablet
• Test the skill using traditional in-person
methods
Uh Oh! He can’t do it without the app!
Troubleshooting
• Does your child:
• Seem unmotivated to do the skill live?
• May need additional reinforcers/rewards
• Seem confused when you provide the instructions
for the live task?
• May need to provide additional live training
• Make consistent errors on skills he mastered in
the app?
• May need to provide additional training live or in other apps
• Make sure your child is taught using multiple examples of a
skill
Using Apps for AAC devices
• Many apps for communication devices
• Alternative to Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
• Benefits
• Easy to add or remove icons
• More compact & socially acceptable than other AAC
devices
• Considerations
• Need to have unrestricted access to device at all times
• If the device is the only favorite item, it can be hard to
teach initial communication
• Consult experts!
Behavior Analysts or Speech Pathologists
Smart Phone/Tablet Apps - summary
•
•
•
•
Easily accessible but costly
Need to protect device
May need to teach prerequisites
May need to continue to work on skill
outside of the app
Technology
• Technology can enhance treatment or
provide the sole source of treatment
• Not a substitute for a live expert
• Many variables to consider when thinking
about using technology with your child
• Most important thing to consider: Does this
provide a significant improvement over low
tech equivalent?
Thank you!
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Kaneen Geiger at
[email protected] or (720) 470-0578