Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Jul 23;13(4):772-798.
doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00440-z. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Creating and Sharing Digital ABA Instructional Activities: A Practical Tutorial

Affiliations

Creating and Sharing Digital ABA Instructional Activities: A Practical Tutorial

Stephanie L Mattson et al. Behav Anal Pract. .

Abstract

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) may encounter situations, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, that preclude them from providing traditional in-person applied behavior-analytic services to clients. When conditions prevent BCBAs and behavior technicians from working directly with clients, digital instructional activities designed by BCBAs and delivered via a computer or tablet may be a viable substitute. Google applications, including Google Slides, Google Forms, and Google Classroom, can be particularly useful for creating and sharing digital instructional activities. In the current article, we provide task analyses for utilizing basic Google Slides functions, developing independent instructional activities, developing caregiver-supported instructional activities, and sharing activities with clients and caregivers. We also provide practical recommendations for implementing digital instructional activities with clients and caregivers.

Keywords: Autism; Technology-based learning; Telehealth.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors have no known conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Google Slides “Present” view
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Shape menu
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sizing the shape
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Sizing the shape using the “Shift” key
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Fill Color icon
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Border Color icon
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Insert Image icon
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Inserting an image using the “Search the web” option
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Copying the image address
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Pasting the image URL
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
Text Box icon
Fig. 12
Fig. 12
Inserting audio
Fig. 13
Fig. 13
Selecting an audio file
Fig. 14
Fig. 14
Placing the audio file on the slide
Fig. 15
Fig. 15
Changing audio file settings
Fig. 16
Fig. 16
Insert Link icon
Fig. 17
Fig. 17
Insert Link menu
Fig. 18
Fig. 18
Inserting the link
Fig. 19
Fig. 19
Verifying that the shape/image is linked
Fig. 20.
Fig. 20.
Shape tool menu
Fig. 21
Fig. 21
Navigation arrow
Fig. 22
Fig. 22
Navigation arrows
Fig. 23
Fig. 23
Linked navigation arrows
Fig. 24
Fig. 24
Inserting the protective film shape
Fig. 25
Fig. 25
“Order” menu
Fig. 26
Fig. 26
Only linked stimuli in front of protective film
Fig. 27
Fig. 27
Fill Color tool menu with the “Transparent” option selected
Fig. 28
Fig. 28
Border Color tool menu with the “Transparent” option selected
Fig. 29
Fig. 29
Lining up visual stimuli
Fig. 30
Fig. 30
Saving the current slide as an image
Fig. 31
Fig. 31
“Background” option
Fig. 32
Fig. 32
“Background” menu
Fig. 33
Fig. 33
New stationary background
Fig. 34
Fig. 34
Shape covering the target response
Fig. 35
Fig. 35
Instructions on a blank slide
Fig. 36
Fig. 36
Inserting the shape
Fig. 37
Fig. 37
Adding additional stimuli
Fig. 38
Fig. 38
Adding mobile objects
Fig. 39
Fig. 39
Sharing the drag-and-drop activity
Fig. 40
Fig. 40
Navigate to Google Forms
Fig. 41
Fig. 41
Start a new blank quiz
Fig. 42
Fig. 42
Adding the form title
Fig. 43
Fig. 43
Adding the activity description
Fig. 44
Fig. 44
Creating a form identifier
Fig. 45
Fig. 45
Adding questions
Fig. 46
Fig. 46
Creating a multiple-choice question
Fig. 47
Fig. 47
Inserting question and answer options
Fig. 48
Fig. 48
Navigating to form responses
Fig. 49
Fig. 49
Options for viewing form responses
Fig. 50
Fig. 50
Pop-up menu with sharing options
Fig. 51
Fig. 51
“Share” option
Fig. 52
Fig. 52
File drop-down menu with “Publish to the web” option
Fig. 53
Fig. 53
“Publish to the web” pop-up menu
Fig. 54
Fig. 54
New classroom creation button
Fig. 55
Fig. 55
Google Classroom terms of use policy
Fig. 56
Fig. 56
Class specifications
Fig. 57
Fig. 57
Google Classroom homepage
Fig. 58
Fig. 58
Google Classroom code
Fig. 59
Fig. 59
“Join class” screen
Fig. 60
Fig. 60
Creating topics
Fig. 61
Fig. 61
Naming and adding topics
Fig. 62
Fig. 62
Creating an assignment
Fig. 63
Fig. 63
Adding content to an assignment
Fig. 64
Fig. 64
Assignment-specific adjustments
Fig. 65
Fig. 65
Creating Independent Instructional Activities

References

    1. 123apps LLC. (2012). Online Voice Recorder (Version 1.1) [Web software]. Retrieved from https://online-voice-recorder.com/
    1. Apple. (2016). QuickTime (Version 7.7.9) [Computer software]. Retrieved from http://apple.com>quicktime
    1. Baer DM, Wolf MM, Risley TR. Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 1968;1(1):91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba/1968.1-91. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Blair, B. J., & Shawler, L. A. (2019). Developing and implementing emergent responding training systems with available and low-cost computer-based learning tools: Some best practices and a tutorial. Behavior Analysis in Practice. 10.1007/s40617-019-00405-x. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bowles PE, Nelson RO. Training teachers as mediators: Efficacy of a workshop versus the bug-in-the-ear technique. Journal of School Psychology. 1976;14(1):15–26. doi: 10.1016/0022-4405(76)90058-3. - DOI

LinkOut - more resources