4a-3 Elementary and Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Project Description:
Elementary and Secondary Education for Students with ASD
CEDD faculty member, Nicole Sparapani, PhD, is conducting research on educational practices for elementary students on the autism spectrum within general education classrooms. Dr. Sparapani's team is examining the impact of teacher-student interactions on classroom engagement and learning within general education reading and mathematics contexts. Dr. Sparapani is the PI and Dr. Mundy is the Co-PI on a 4-year exploratory project funded through the Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. The purpose of this Exploration project is to better understand the nature of and variability in mathematics and literacy learning opportunities for kindergarten–3rd grade students with autism spectrum disorder (autism) within general education classrooms. The team is utilizing classroom video observations to examine how teacher-student instructional interactions shape developmental and academic outcomes in the context of mathematics and literacy instruction. Findings will support the validation of a multicomponent observation system designed to address the complex learning needs that are characteristic of autism, while highlighting salient interaction features that support student participation and learning. These data will also illustrate similarities and differences in teacher instructional "moves" (instructional practices and teacher language) and student participation between autistic learners and their non-autistic peers. The information from this project will be used to inform the preparation of general education teachers in order to improve the learning experiences of students with autism.
Dr. Sparapani leads an interdisciplinary team in improving education by understanding the dynamic and translational relationship between students and their classroom environment. Her newest work involves using detailed classroom observation coding systems to examine teacher language in mathematics and literary contexts and how this affects student learning. The knowledge gained from this study will contribute to the improvement of educational outcomes for ASD, an important issue for research, practice, and policy.
Keyword(s):
Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, Mental/Behavioral Health – General
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Leadership
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Another State, Single-County, Mulit-County, State, Regional, National, International
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
