conference notes on ABA

[Guest guest]

Hi, someone requested I post to this list my past notes from Dana Reinecke

BCaBa's presentation " Taking the Trial out of Discrete Trial Teaching " that I

mentioned in the recent " ABA in Plain English " with Dr. Bobby Newman. These

notes on the myths of DTT were from a quick breakout session at a NYSABA

conference in 12/2002

Also Dr. Iwata's notes about Aggressive and SIB as well as all my notes (some

better then others ;0)

are posted on the ELIJA website www.elija.org under " Jennica's Notes "

take care,

Jennica

Dana Reinecke BCABA: Myths of Discrete Trial Teaching NYSABA one day conference

Dec. 13 2002

I really hope the following will help, it helped me tremendously and two other

moms with me at this conference (our children were in the same school until I

left recently) I know they enjoyed this presentation as much as I did. When I

tell you every myth that was listed, I'm not kidding when I say that EVERY myth

was this schools " Protocol " we were all very sick to our stomachs, but so

excited to know that it wasn't our children plateauing, degree of disability,

lack of compliance, lack of progress, it was really poor teaching techniques,

that just because those techniques helped a few kids make huge indistinguishable

gains, some changes NEED TO TAKE PLACE for our kids. the following are some of

my notes from NYSABA Dec. 13 2002, at White Plains, Dana Reinecke BCaBa: Myths

of Discrete Trial Teaching

This whole day conference had many breakout sessions you could attend throughout

the day. Interesting enough, the VERY LAST presentation was this one, and none

of the presentations on ABA throughout the day even mentioned DTT.

If ABA is not only DTT what else is it? There are hundreds of aspects to

ABA-shaping, chaining, prompt-fading, incidental teaching, free operant

reinforcement, activity schedules, behavior reduction strategies, generalizing

training. It is a way of looking at Behavior.

DTT MYTH: attending must be face to face, hands quiet benefit? its better.

WHY NOT?: its BORING, it's not what happens in the real world.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD?: Change settings

DTT MYTH: you must do 10 trials at a time

WHY?: % are easy to calculate

WHY NOT? it's BORING, Does not happen in the real world. The point is to teach

not just run trials. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD?: Mix it up.

DTT MYTH: YOu must use the same stimuls.

WHY? the child will learn faster I f stimulus remains the same

WHY NOT?: it's BORING, It's not what happens in the real world.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD?: Vary sd's, use real world examples.

DTT MYTH: You may only reinforce the response that is written in the program.

WHY? consistancy, consistency

WHY NOT? you create a robot.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD? Appropriate responses, even if they vary from what

is written.

DTT MYTH: All teachers should use same prompts.

WHY? Teaching must remain consistent. WHY NOT?: It leads to prompt dependency.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD?: Teachers should fade prompts as quickly as

possible.

DTT MYTH: Nothing is more important then the data book.

WHY?: Data are necessary to guide treatment. WHY NOT?: NOthing is more important

than you child.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD?: Respect the book, Respect the DAta, teach the

child.

DTT MYTH: Teacher must follow a pre-set curriculum.

WHY?: we don't have anyone who can write programs without the curriculum.

WHY NOT?: Not all children have the same deficits. The disorder itself is

characterized by uneven development. Each child has his own environmental

demands to be dealt with.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD?: Use curricula guide or use a flexable one such as

IGS. Assess the child's individual needs.

DTT MYTH: You must keep doing a high intensity of discrete trial teaching as

long as possible.

WHY?: It works. WHY NOT?: It's boring, It's not what happens in the real world.

WHAT DO YOU DO INSTEAD? Stop doing DTT when child starts learning form the

natural environment.

DTT MYTH: Once a child masters a program in DTT your job is done. WHY? That's

the point of DTT

WHY NOT? it's not mastered until its generalized

Some further suggestions: Let the children choose (reinforcers, materials,

programs to work on) The the children teach (self management) Let the children

play- incorporate games and play into programs Why make it fun? less avoidance

behavior, children are interested in learning. Better compliance with staff and

parents. I really enjoyed her presentation! How many myths are currently being

used with YOUR child? Some great advice and ideas to work with here and another

inspiration for me to learn more about the current applications of ABA. Thank

you Dana for letting me share your presentation with others who weren't

fortunate enough to come! Take care, Jennica

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