Effectiveness of Video Modeling Presented via Smartboard for Teaching Social Response Behavior to Children with Autism

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of video modeling presented via smartboard for teaching children with autism about social response in the form of gestures, and verbal and facial expressions indicative of happiness and anger, and evaluate the method in terms of maintenance and generalization. The study used a multiple probe design across participants. Three male subjects diagnosed with autism, ages 3 to 5, participated in the study. Results showed that with video modeling presented via smartboard, all three subjects were able to learn about social response in the form of gestures, verbal and facial expressions indicative of happiness and anger, and generalize their learning to different settings, materials and persons. In addition, maintenance sessions conducted in weeks four and six and month seven following the end of the instruction showed that subjects retained the learned behavior. Social validity results showed that mothers and teachers of the children had positive views about the study.