Acquisition of basic concepts by children with intellectual disabilities using a computer-assisted learning approach

Area of Science:

• Special Education
• Educational Technology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Computer-assisted learning (CAL) offers potential for efficient education.
• Existing educational software often shows limited gains over traditional drill-and-practice.
• Children with intellectual disabilities require tailored educational interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Let's Play With..." software for teaching colors, shapes, and body position.
• To assess the impact of a CAL tool designed with Gagné instructional design and applied behavior analysis principles.
• To compare learning outcomes between students with intellectual disabilities using the software and those receiving standard instruction.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 60 special education students (39 boys, 21 girls) in the Cadiz School District.
• The "Let's Play With..." software was implemented as a learning tool.
• Instructional design principles from Gagné and applied behavior analysis were integrated into the software's structure.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences in learning outcomes were observed.
• Students using the "Let's Play With..." software demonstrated greater improvement.
• The CAL intervention proved more effective than standard teaching methods for the target concepts.

Conclusions:

• The "Let's Play With..." software is an effective tool for teaching foundational concepts to children with intellectual disabilities.
• CAL, when designed with specific instructional and behavioral principles, can enhance special education.
• This approach offers a promising avenue for improving educational outcomes in special needs populations.