Teaching children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) academic skills supports their future opportunities. For example, early number sense skills are predictive of future mathematical success for all children including children with ASD. Yet, research on foundational early childhood mathematics skills of children with ASD is limited. This study used an adapted version of Number Talks to increase the number sense skills of preschool children with ASD. Number Talks is a constructivist approach that was combined with systematic instruction (i.e., system of least prompts and modeling) in this study. A multiple probe across participants design established a functional relation between using an adapted version of Number Talks and the early number sense skills of preschool children with ASD. Findings suggest using an adapted version of Number Talks can increase the early number sense skills of preschool children with ASD. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile learning app based on collaborative learning in authentic environment (known as AKSES) and its impact on the preschool students’ basic scientific process skills competency namely; observation, classification and communication. In addition, the study also investigated competency patterns of the students’ skills. This study was a quantitative study which used two sets of instruments which looked into AKSES application and marking rubrics of the students’ basic scientific process skills. Based on quasi-experimental study, the duration of the study was seven weeks and six learning activities were implemented. Two rural preschools were selected based on quota sample selection and 25 students were in each controlled and treatment groups. Analysis of the survey data was carried out in the form of descriptive and inferential analysis involving Mann-Whitney U test. The Mann-Whitney U test analysis found significant differences in competency patterns of basic scientific process skills in both groups. Meanwhile, the competency patterns of basic scientific process skills indicated positive increase among all preschool students after the utilization of AKSES application in learning activities based on collaborative learning strategy in an authentic environment.
The Development of Bodily - Kinesthetic Intelligence through Creative Dance for Preschool Students