UMass Boston

Course Overview

Description

This three credit advanced course has been approved by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board as addressing competencies in the areas of identification of problem behaviors, assessment, intervention and behavior change. It provides a systematic introduction to behaviorally-based assessment methods, the use of reinforcement to teach new behavior, and a variety of instructional methods and instructional formats. The instructional planning process and the protocols necessary to develop comprehensive instructional programs for learners will be reviewed with special emphasis for those learners with autism spectrum disorders. The broad goal of the course is to impart students with a broad range of instructional tools that allow them to develop systematic and comprehensive programs that teach relevant skills in the most natural contexts possible. Specific topics include: schedules of reinforcement, preference assessment, criterion-referenced skill assessments, reinforcement-based behavior change procedures such as token economies and self-management, stimulus control, errorless teaching, behavior chains, discrete trial instruction, naturalistic teaching, verbal behavior training, and maintenance and generalization of skills.