Effectiveness of video modeling via smart board to teach socially expressive behaviors to children with autism

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of video modeling via smart board on teaching socially expressive behaviors to children with autism and to evaluate in terms of maintenance and generalization of the target skills. Social expressive behaviors (gestures, facial expression and verbal comment) suitable for six different social contexts related to getting angry when objects or toys are taken from the participants and being happy when an activity is successfully completed by the participants are taught to participants. The study is designed with a single subject multiple probe design across participants. The participants of the study were 4 male children between 4-7 years old diagnosed with autism participate who had continued education in Developmental Support Unit of Research Institute for Individuals with Disabilities at Anadolu University. Besides, 3 adult model for video modeling intervention sessions also participated in the study. Efficacy data were collected from baseline, daily probe, instruction, generalization and follow-up sessions. Besides, social validity and reliability data were collected, as well. While efficacy data was analyzed graphically, social validity data was determined by receiving personal opinions of families and teachers of the participants. Findings of the study show that four participants have learned the social expression skills suitable for the social contexts, have generalized the skills to different settings and people and have maintained the skills during 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks after instruction sessions completed. Social validity findings show that mothers and teachers of the participants have had positive opinions about the study. Treatment reliability findings of the study show that the research have been implemented with high treatment reliability (%98,6). Keywords: Autism, Socially Expressive Behaviors, Facial Expression, Gesture, Verbal Comments, Video Modelling, Teaching Via Smart Board