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Tutoring - Discrete Trial (DT):The discrete trial is the primary teaching method for a number of the behaviorally-based interventions used in teaching children with autism. ABA is a structured; intensive teaching program which relies on behavioral methods. It is based on behavioral research first published by B.F. Skinner in 1938 and later expanded upon by many others. Simply stated ABA relies on the principle that correct responses and behaviors are rewarded with lots of positive reinforcement. When incorrect responses and undesirable behaviors occur, they are ignored and appropriate responses are prompted and rewarded. Expressive and receptive responses are targeted.
Lessons to be taught are broken down into their simplest elements. These elements are taught using repeated trials called a discrete trial. Discrete trial training consists of a series of distinct repeated lessons taught one-to-one with a student. The behavior trainer presents a task and reinforces the student for completing the task, even if the trainer has to assist the student through the task in the initial stages. Data is kept on the multiple trials and the student moves on to additional tasks as the old ones are mastered.
This example graph is a sample of "discrete" trial from beginning, middle to end:
1 2 3 Antecedent
(instruction)Behavior of Child Consequence (reinforcement) "get car" Get car with great attention Big reinforcement "Great" "touch boat" Touches boat w/good attention Big reinforcement "Terrific" "gets juice" Gets juice w/poor attention "ok" reinforcement not as big "point to cookie" Points to cookie w/ good attention "lets try again" "touch ball" no response no reinforcement, "you need to look" If the child does not complete all three stages of this tasks then the process is not considered a “true” discrete trial.
- The beginning or antecedent is what you do, to make the student respond. This can be a question, a visual stimulus, a prompt or an event.
- The middle or behavior is the behavior of the student and his response/or lack of response, to the antecedent.
- The end or consequence is your response to the students behavior.
Occupational Therapy (OT) • Speech Pathology • Physical Therapy (PT) / Applied Physical Education (APE)
Therapeutic Surf Instruction • Snorkeling • Self-Help Skills (including toileting)
Language Arts (phonics, sight words etc.) • Mathematics • Behavior Intervention
Sensory Integration • TEACCH Methodology • Discrete Trial (DT)
Computer Software Applications • Homework Assistance • Social Skills
