Report
Overcoming difficulties with written expression. Full Report
Autism CRC
2018
Abstract
Many children on the autism spectrum have difficulty with the fine motor and perceptual demands of handwriting, and the conceptual and language demands of written composition. To overcome these challenges, an iPad application, ‘Power Writer’, was developed that supported students through peer video-modelling to use writing support software (Text Help Read & Write) and a writing instruction strategy, Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD).
During Phase 1, 17 primary school-aged students (four on the spectrum and 13 not on the spectrum), four teachers, and two adults on the spectrum contributed to the co-design of Power Writer either by assisting with video production and/or accompanying music, or by providing feedback through focus groups and semi-structured interviews.
During Phase 2, the efficacy of Power Writer was measured using a series of single subject experimental design (ABAC) studies involving eight students on the spectrum to compare the quality and length of their persuasive writing composition when: (a) handwriting, (b) using writing support software alone, and (c) using SRSD scaffolded by the Power Writer app with a choice of handwriting or writing support software.
The attitudes of these students and their teachers toward the efficacy and social validity of the intervention were explored using semi-structured interviews, and student and teacher surveys. The writing support software significantly improved the writing quality of four students, and the word count of two students. Following SRSD training provided by Power Writer, the writing quality of one student significantly improved, and the word count of three students significantly improved. Students reported feeling more positive about writing, and teachers reported improvements in the quality and length of their written compositions and their willingness to write.
During Phase 3, the ecological relevance of the intervention was explored through focus groups involving nine teachers who used Power Writer with seven mainstream classes. Teachers perceived Power Writer to be suitable for whole-of-class mainstream classroom use and highly valuable in supporting struggling writers, while commenting on the need for further extension for competent writers. The peer-modelled instructional videos were perceived to be particularly motivating for students.
Details
- Title
- Overcoming difficulties with written expression. Full Report
- Authors
- Anne Ozdowska (Author) - Autism CRCJill Ashburner (Author) - University of QueenslandPeta Wyeth (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologySuzanne Carrington (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyLibby Macdonald (Author) - Griffith University
- Publication details
- 57 pages
- Publisher
- Autism CRC
- ISBN
- 9780995373648
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; USC Business School - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99472107702621
- Output Type
- Report
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