Discussion Board

Please write a brief overview of your needs assessment.

 

Use APA 7.

Use 1 pages for this work.

 

Needs Assessment Assignment

Part I

To facilitate the research on “increasing on-task behavior in students with autism during the home-learning school period,” two assessment instruments have been selected. First, there is the Functional Assessment Screening Tool (FAST) tool. The FAST tool was selected because it allows the researcher to find out the factors, which have an impact on the incidence of specific problem behavior. Second, there is the Event Recording tool. The Event Recording tool was selected because it allows the researcher to document behaviors in real-time. These two tools were selected over other instruments because of their efficiency in data collection, in addition to how they complement each other. The FAST tool will be utilized as an initial screening tool for the participants of the research and note if they are the right fit for the research objective.

The Event Recording tool is handy for the research since it offers data regarding the frequency of occurrence of a given behavior. LeBlanc, Raetz, Sellers, and Carr (2016) assert that this frequency is a specific and significant behavioral dimension. Together, these two tools will give comprehensive results for the analysis of the identified problem behavior. Through the use of these two tools for the research, the anticipated findings are that the researcher will identify several vital aspects that will inform his/her decision on the best way to increase on-tasks behaviors in students with autism while reducing their task refusal behaviors. Overall, the process that resulted in the establishment of the two needs assessment instrument started with the identification of the research objective. The researcher then assessed the need for training for each needs assessment instrument. Finally, the researcher selected the instruments that required minimal training but would offer a way of obtaining valuable data to inform the needs of the study.

Reference

LeBlanc, L. A., Raetz, P. B., Sellers, T. P., & Carr, J. E. (2016). A proposed model for selecting measurement procedures for the assessment and treatment of problem behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(1), 77-83.

 

Part II

The individuals who participated in the research were students with autism that are currently learning from home. This batch of students is often characterized by a high propensity for indulging in off-task behaviors rather than on-task activities. Thus, rather than deal with the prescribed school work, they would rather do unrelated stuff. The researcher was seeking to establish if there is a way he/she can decrease the participants’ off-task behaviors while increasing their on-task behaviors. More so, the researcher wanted to alter the participants’ task refusal behaviors. This was crucial as it would establish techniques that can be used by educators to enhance the learning behaviors of students with autism. Excessively indulging in off-task behaviors is very detrimental to learning outcomes. Additionally, it lowers the students’ ability to socialize, acquire new skills, and be independent.

The assessment was proctored during the Covid-19 outbreak when children are increasingly being home-schooled. This was an opportune moment since it fitted the research’s criteria of investigating children that are learning from home. The assessment took place in the students’ homes with the consent of their parents or caregivers. The process of proctoring the assessment started with the researcher explaining to the students, their parents/caregivers, and educators about what was going to happen during the research process. Thereafter, the researcher administered the FAST tool. The results of this tool were used to assess the participants and identify the ones that would best suit the objectives of the research. Thereafter, the researcher used the Events Recording Tool. This tool was used over a period of one month to carefully collect as much data as possible. The data would, later on, be analyzed to give insight into the gaps that exist in the current learning model at homes. Thereafter, solutions would be given on how to enhance the learning experience and outcomes for the students with autism.

Reference

LeBlanc, L. A., Raetz, P. B., Sellers, T. P., & Carr, J. E. (2016). A proposed model for selecting measurement procedures for the assessment and treatment of problem behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(1), 77-83.