Association for Behavior Analysis International

Volume 31 | 2008 | Number 3

ABAI's Dissemination of Behavior Analysis in Education

By Drs. Maria E. Malott and Janet S. Twyman

Behavior analysis has done and can continue to do so much for improving education and bringing evidence-based practices to the realms of regular and special education. In response to the comments that called for the Association of Behavior Analysis to disseminate and network on the topic of education, ABA International conducted its first Education Conference that took place September 5 – 7, 2008 in Reston, Virginia. The conference was titled Evidence-Based Practice, Scientifically Based Instruction, and Educational Effectiveness. The conference was well received and registration totaled nearly 250, with attendees coming from 10 countries and 33 states in the USA.

The program highlighted the findings of a superb group of speakers who focused on an assortment of topics related to evidence-based education. The program included ten invited presentations. (See Figure 1.) Dr. Janet S. Twyman introduced the event and welcomed the audience in her opening remarks. Dr. Ronnie Detrich’s presentation noted that recent federal policy placed evidence-based interventions in the middle of education policy, and though Detrich noted that this was encouraging, he addressed the many issues that must still be resolved. Dr. Lynn Okagaki’s presentation was given by her colleague Dr. Elizabeth Albro who presented the perspectives on the future of education research in a period in which historical and cultural influences have converged to turn attention to the effectiveness of education in our country. Dr. Timothy Slocum described several prominent sources of evidence-based practice recommendations with special attention to standards used and how this influences practice recommendations. Dr. Hill M. Walker reviewed the source and rationale for developments using randomized control group (RCT) designs and presented information on the appropriate use of RCTs in their various forms. Dr. Susan M. Wilczynski gave a description of the advantages and disadvantages of single subject research design and spoke of the importance of including single subject research design when establishing evidence-based practice guidelines. Dr. David Tilly presented Response to Intervention (RTI) as a framework for implementing and supporting evidence-based practices; and Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden discussed how to plan and implement RTI within schools in ways that promote the capacity of schools, and how to use data to improve every day instruction and schooling decisions. Dr. William L. Heward identified several reasons why ABA is ideally suited to help improve education, reviewed a somewhat longer list of reasons that work against the widespread adoption of behavioral approaches in education, including several of behavior analysts' own making; and suggested some actions that educators, practitioners, and researchers could take to enhance and further ABA's contributions to effective education. Dr. Anthony Biglan addressed overlooked factors in the promotion of evidence-based practice which included a review of the evidence about teachers’ psychological well being and its relationship to educational effectiveness.Themes in evidence-based practice were discussed by Dr. Robert Horner and participants were offered a model for guiding future research, future implementation efforts, and future evaluation models that target the implementation of evidence-based practices in schools. (This Newsletter Issue includes articles by presenters addressing the content of the material.)

Figure 1. 2008 Education Conference participants (from L to R) back row: William L. Heward, Ronnie Detrich, Hill M. Walker, Anthony A. Biglan, Robert H. Horner, W. David Tilly III, and Timothy A. Slocum; front row: Janet S. Twyman (Master of Ceremonies), Maria E. Malott (ABAI Executive Director), Amanda M. VanDerHeyden, and Susan M. Wilczynski.

The conference poster session was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Posters showcased best practices and programs demonstrating evidence-based education and reviewed the evidence base of various practices and standards. Posters were grouped into several categories that all addressed education topics including autism; clinical, family, and behavioral medicine; developmental disabilities; and teaching behavior analysis; among others. The presentation of 74 posters was made at the evening poster session to an engaged and appreciative audience.

Figure 2. Poster session at the first ABAI Education Conference.

We received outstanding evaluations in reference to the presenters and the event. The conference was evaluated very highly by the participants across all categories; including the conference overall, the program quality, staff, location, and services. We are greatly encouraged by their responses and requests to continue doing specialized conferences in education in years to come.

We are thankful for all those who sponsored this event, including Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc.; PLEA Agency; SEEK Education; and The Wing Institute. Applied Behavior Consultants employs about 300 persons doing Applied Behavior Analysis—primarily with children with autism—throughout California; PLEA Agency has a mission to help individuals and families facing behavioral and developmental challenges through Programs for Living, Education, and Advocacy; SEEK Education’s mission is to enable children with developmental disabilities, special needs, and learning disorders to reach a self-sufficient, independent, and improved quality of life; and The Wing Institute promotes evidence-based education policies and practices to address serious challenges facing education today. Without the contributions of these organizations, ABA International would not have been able to provide its members with an event of this caliber and quality.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International is also pleased to be able to offer the 2008 Education Conference DVD/Webcast package. The package includes coverage of the conference and allows those who were not able to attend the conference to view the presentations An added bonus to the DVD/Webcast package is that the purchaser may use the package to earn BACB continuing education (CE) credits in the comfort of their own home. The package is available for purchase through the ABAI Online Store at https://apps.abainternational.org/store/. Future events will offer DVD/Webcast packages as well, and ABAI is excited to continue to supply this opportunity.

Figure 3. ABAI 2008 Education DVD.

ABA International was pleased to host this important event, and thanks its presenters and all those who attended. The presentations given at the event were extremely timely and important to the field of education, and should have a significant impact on the way professionals think about issues of evidence and education.