Skip to main content

Breadcrumb

Home arrow_forward_ios Information on IES-Funded Research arrow_forward_ios Dynamic E-Learning to Improve Posts ...
Home arrow_forward_ios ... arrow_forward_ios Dynamic E-Learning to Improve Posts ...
Information on IES-Funded Research
Contract Closed

Dynamic E-Learning to Improve Postsecondary Transition Outcomes for Secondary Students with High Functioning Autism

NCSER
Program: Small Business Innovation Research
Award amount: $1,050,000
Project director: Debra Childress
Awardee:
3-C Institute for Social Development
Year: 2013
Project type:
Fast Track
Contract number: EDIES13C0026

Purpose

Despite cognitive strengths, students with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) pursue postsecondary learning at much lower rates than their typically developing peers. As a result, approximately 24% of students with HF-ASD-but without intellectual disability-report no regular educational or employment activities following high school. Further, when these intellectually capable students pursue college, they tend to drop out prematurely. Given that students with HF-ASD often have special aptitudes for technical or scientific fields of study, low matriculation and graduation rates not only diminish advanced educational and employment opportunities for these students, but also reduce society's available workforce of talented individuals. This project will develop a self-paced, adaptive resilience education intervention designed specifically to meet the learning styles and social-emotional needs of students with HF-ASD.

Project Activities

The researchers will create a wireframe prototype through testing and feedback with students with HF-ASD. Following this prototype development, the researchers will script instructional content, interactive exercises, graphics and video elements, scoring algorithms for measuring progress. These components will then be integrated within the overall system. Iterative refinements will be conducted at major production milestones until the product is fully functional. Once development is complete, the researchers will assess the usability and feasibility, fidelity of implementation, and the promise of the product to improve student outcomes. The team will conduct a randomized controlled study including 100 students with HF-ASD recruited from an estimated 50 high schools. For the study, schools will randomly assign half of the students to either use the intervention or not. Students will complete a pre- and post-test on measures assessing knowledge and understanding of possible domains following high school, coping and self-advocacy skills, and enhanced self-efficacy. Qualitative data will also be collected from teachers via questionnaires.

People and institutions involved

IES program contact(s)

Edward Metz

IES Research Scientist
NCER

Products and publications

Product: This project team will develop a web-based product to engage 11th and 12th grade high school students with HF-ASD in a self-paced online interactive course to learn about the transition to college, learn specific resilience strategies for coping with the transition to college, and to practice applying those strategies via participation in interactive simulated exercises. The exercises will include game-based animated scenes, role plays, and visualization tools. The software will provide individualized instruction that adjusts to the skill level of the user, personalized feedback on performance, and hints and cues for students who are struggling. A teacher management dashboard will provide professional development resources and reports on student performance.

Supplemental information

FAST-TRACK AWARD:
Phase I Amount: $150,000
Phase I Period: 6 months
Phase II Amount: $900,000
Phase II Period: 2 years

Questions about this project?

To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.

 

Tags

CognitionEducation Technology

Share

Icon to link to Facebook social media siteIcon to link to X social media siteIcon to link to LinkedIn social media siteIcon to copy link value

Questions about this project?

To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.

 

You may also like

Zoomed in IES logo
Workshop/Training

Data Science Methods for Digital Learning Platform...

August 18, 2025
Read More
Zoomed in IES logo
Workshop/Training

Data Science for Education (DS4EDU)

April 01, 2025
Read More
Zoomed in IES logo
Request for Applications

Education Research and Development Center Program ...

March 14, 2025
Read More
icon-dot-govicon-https icon-quote