Discrete Trial Teaching: A Teaching Method

Discrete trial teaching is a teaching method classified by the fast pace delivery and shortened period of instructions (5-20 seconds) and incorporation of prompts, which is also referred to as errorless learning. DTT is under the umbrella of ABA and it is a method used to teach new skills and behaviors to children on the autism spectrum. As well DTT uses a unique style of teaching, errorless learning. Which unlike the normal teaching of trial and error. This style of teaching has been shown to be very effective with children with autism. Furthermore, Applied Behavior analysis seeks to address the antecedent and consequences of behavior ( Hunter class). There is over 60 years of research to support the effectiveness of ABA to address the behavior or children with development disabilities. Furthermore we discussed in lecture that punishment and reinforcement are the driving principle behind changing behavior. DTT uses carefully timed reinforcement to support newly learned behaviors and skills. This research indicates that the use of ABA leads to very effective results in children. (Hunter, 2015)

Children with ASD often need additional support in the areas of communication, social skills, repetitive or sensory –seeking behavior, challenging or maladaptive behaviors, and adaptive skills For these reasons different teaching methods are required because ASD children interact with their environment in a different way than typically developing children. Children who are not on the spectrum learn through modeling, interaction with peers, and play. However, for children with ASD all of these forms of learning are difficult for them and aren’t prewired instead they have to be taught to make this connections. Thus, is the goal of DTT to help children learn skills and adapt to their environment in a more normal way (I don’t like that wording). ( Hunter