ERIC Number: EJ1278928
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1045-988X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Using a STEM Activity to Improve Social Communication Interactions in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Michalek, Anne M. P.; Phalen, Lisa; Bobzien, Jonna L.; Chen, Chung-Hao; Urbano, Maria; Hartmann, Kathrin; Okwara, Leonore; Gorrepati, Purnima; Deutsch, Stephen; Williams, Takeshia
Preventing School Failure, v65 n1 p38-47 2020
Social communication deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder are often exacerbated during adolescence. Group based approaches are effective intervention techniques for facilitating improved social communication skills in people with ASD; however, science, technology, engineering, and math activities, while highly preferred areas of interest, are overlooked as a therapeutic tool. This study determines the effectiveness of peer collaborations using a STEM activity on social communication for adolescents with ASD. Using solarbotics kits, peer dyads worked together over the course of a 12-week period to construct a functioning robot. Measures of social communication were collected prior to the initiation of the intervention, during the intervention, and after the intervention. Results indicated that the collaborative peer intervention using a STEM focused approach facilitated non-verbal and pragmatic improvements.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Adolescents, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Interpersonal Communication, Communication Skills, Learning Activities, Social Development, Cooperative Learning, Robotics, Program Effectiveness, Rating Scales, Science Laboratories, Science Activities, Nonverbal Communication, Verbal Communication, High School Students
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Childhood Autism Rating Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A