Section 4 Implementing Teaching Strategies

Selma works with Josef, under the guidance of Loretta, a BCBA, to implement naturalistic interventions.
Goals, teaching targets, methods for intervention, and data collection strategies are finalized and shared with Selma.
Importance of understanding that naturalistic interventions are often more complex than structured interventions like discrete trials.

Maintaining focus on eliciting target responses while ensuring activities are reinforcing and enjoyable can be difficult.
Selma appreciates the detailed walk-through given by Loretta for proper implementation.

Critical to identify what motivates an individual before starting ABA interventions.
Regular reinforcer assessments help mitigate issues related to changing motivations and decrease problem behaviors.

Informational Interview:
- Asking learners directly what they like, using guiding questions like "What is your favorite time of the day?"
Caregiver Interview:
- Asking caregivers about the learner's preferences, useful for non-verbal individuals.
Free Operant:
- Observing individuals in environments with access to various reinforcing items or activities.
Single Stimulus Preference Assessments:
- Allowing individuals to engage with items one at a time until they disengage.
Multiple Stimulus with Replacement (MSW):
- Similar to Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO) but keeps selected items in the array.
Period Stimulus:
- Comparing a highly preferred item with a less preferred one to assess preferences.

Proper setup of the environment can enhance learning opportunities and interventions.

Learner Directed: Following the learner's interests.
Routines: Incorporating daily routines like snack time for teaching targets.
Planned Activities: Pre-planning games or tasks centered around skill practice.

Using toys with multiple components, role-playing with dolls or puppets, and activities requiring turn-taking.

A range of individuals (parents, teachers, peers) may serve as interventionists, promoting generalization across settings.
Knowing the target skills, teaching techniques, and strategies is crucial for all involved in the intervention.

The learner is introduced, and interventionists begin to elicit target behaviors following the child’s lead.
Use of unobtrusive prompts is important to ensure engagement without overwhelming the learner.
Importance of providing verbal feedback relevant to the activity during exercises to reinforce learning.

Selma's first session with Josef involved active play and reinforcement strategies.
Activities included jumping on a trampoline and using verbal prompts tied to actions, such as modeling sounds and behaviors.

Various factors must be recorded to understand the effectiveness of the intervention and the context in which behaviors occur.

Target behaviors, level of prompts needed, activities or routines used, and date/time of behaviors.

Utilizing electronic apps, videotaping sessions, or structured data collection forms are effective for capturing necessary data.

Important reflective questions include:
- Did the learner engage quickly?
- How did they respond to embedded reinforcements?
- Were off-task behaviors present?
Selma reflects positively on Josef’s engagement and responses during their session, which motivates her to continue using naturalistic strategies.