MALKA217 Early Intervention for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders Course description

The course prepares participants for working in intensive programs designed to accelerate learning for young children with pervasive developmental disorders. Applied Behavior Analysis is the treatment of choice, and this course teaches application of several behavioral technologies that have been shown to be effective, especially for the acquisition of communication skills.

Coursework requirements from MALK 4000-401, 4000- 402 and MALKA 211 and 212 or equivalent must be approved to participate and submit coursework requirements in MALKA217.

If the course is offered to outside applicants, a working knowledge of basic concepts of behavior analysis is required for participants to get the full benefits of instruction and coursework.

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge The student can

• describe the common elements of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, and discuss the pros and cons of different service delivery models

• discuss the outcomes reported in the literature, and the quality of the evidence for Early Intensive Behavioral Interventions and other interventions for Autism Specter Disorders

• explain important predictors of outcome and describe quality control measures

• discuss the validity of the most commonly employed outcome measures

• describe commonly used assessment instruments

• describe the difference between standardized and non-standardized assessments

Skills The student can

• demonstrate and monitor Discrete Trial Teaching, Precision Teaching, shaping, chaining, and preference assessments

Competence The student can

• discuss the application of intervention protocols for teaching listener responding

• discuss the application of Sufficient Exemplar Training

• discuss advanced considerations when teaching vocal imitation, assessments, target selection and procedures for teaching

• apply knowledge of single-case experimental designs in clinical settings, and give examples on how to achieve experimental control

Diagnostics and assessment, methods to promote verbal, social emotional and academic competence in children with pervasive developmental disorders, staff training and supervision, and parent training and supervision

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, discussions of the curriculum and other reading materials, and discussions based on questions from students.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Students submit 3 written assignments, each with maximum 3 pages including references, according to the deadlines in the course schedule.

Individual written examination with invigilation, 4 hours.

Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. 

None

Grade scale A-F

One internal and one external examiner will assess all exams.