Education Commons^™

Teaching Play Skills To Children With Autism Using Visually Structured Tasks, Patricia Hampshire, Jack Hourcade

Jack Hourcade

Young students with autism typically exhibit lower levels of play behaviors than their typical peers. These play behaviors may be idiosyncratic and/or unusual (e.g., stereotyped or inappropriately repetitive), further inhibiting the possibilities for successful social interactions with classmates. Learners with autism can be systematically taught appropriate toy play behaviors that can then lead to enhanced social opportunities for these students. In this paper, we discuss how teachers can develop and implement systematic instructional strategies incorporating visual structuring to elicit more successful play behaviors in these students.

The Effects Of Incorporating A Word Processor Into A Year Three Writing Program, Natalie Beck, Tony Fetherston

Tony Fetherston

Writing, an essential part of every young child's school life, is a complex affair involving cognitive, affective, and psychomotor elements. Most children learn to write, with varying degrees of success, and every school has children who can be classified as nonwriters. Some children are inhibited and frustrated by writing and are put off by the thought of the writing process. Can word processing assist the writing process with young children? In response to this question, this qualitative study examined the effects of incorporating a word processor into a particular writing program. Seven students from a Year Three class participated in …

Developing An Online Program To Prevent Obesity In Preschool-Aged Children: What Do Parents Recommend?, Rachel Jones, Nathan Price, Anthony Okely, Lori Lockyer

Professor Lori Lockyer

Aim:  The purpose of the present study was to describe preliminary research preceding the development of an online educational program for parents of preschool-aged children who are overweight or at-risk of overweight. Methods:  The study consisted of an evaluation of current health-related websites and four focus groups with typical-end point users. It was conducted in one metropolitan region in New South Wales. Twenty-seven participants were recruited for the focus groups. The focus groups aimed to investigate the thoughts and opinions of participants towards an online educational program. Focus group transcripts were analysed using logico-inductive analysis procedures. Results:  The evaluation of …

Diagnosing 'Disorderly' Children: A Critique Of Behaviour Disorder Discourses, Valerie Harwood

Valerie Harwood

No abstract provided.

Randomised Controlled Trials In Overweight Children: Practicalities And Realities, Janet Warren, R.K. Golley, Clare Collins, Anthony D. Okely, Rachel A. Jones, Philip Morgan, R.A. Perry, Louise Baur, Julie R. Steele, Anthea Magarey

A. D. Okely

AIM: To highlight and discuss the practical aspects of conducting high quality, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with overweight and obese children and their families. CONTENT: Realistic considerations and suggestions for researchers arising from the experiences of three Australian interventions in overweight/obese children are highlighted. The practical implications of key issues arising during this type of RCT include study design, obtaining ethical approval, choice of outcome measures, recruitment, working with families, impact and process evaluation, retention strategies, managing multi-site trials and data management. CONCLUSION: Interventions for overweight children and their families are challenging. Although there were some differences in the design …

The New Outsiders: Adhd And Disadvantage, Valerie Harwood

Valerie Harwood

Recent research has pointed to the uneven distribution of diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with disproportionately high numbers in areas marked by poverty (Gifford Sawyer et al., 2004; Olfsen et al., 2003). This chapter examines this issue of ADHD and social and economic disadvantage. Drawing on research with youth professionals from some of the most disadvantaged communities in Australia, the chapter puts forward the case that the ADHD phenomenon has highly problematic effects on the lives of children and young people in these communities. The intent is to show how the ADHD phenomenon interacts with disadvantage, and suggest how …

Integrating Deaf And Unimpaired Children Into An African School Curriculum: The Role Of Sms, Sacha Develle

Dr Sacha DeVelle

No abstract provided.

Research And Development To Support The Next Stage Of The Harnessing Technology Strategy: The Learner And Their Context, Chris Davies, Anne-Marie Chase, Jenny Good, Dimitrina Spencer

Dr Anne-Marie Chase