Lecture Notes: Task Analysis for Teaching Skills

Introduction

• Topic: Task Analysis
  • Relevance in teaching individuals on the autism spectrum.
  • Potentially life-changing technique for teaching complex skills.

Definitions

• Task Analysis (Formal Definition):
  • The process of breaking down a complex skill or series of behaviors into smaller, teachable units.
• Task Analysis (Working Definition):
  • A list of all individual steps needed for a child or individual to complete a task or sequence of behaviors.

Importance of Task Analysis

• Helps identify gaps in learning, similar to holes in Swiss cheese.
• Essential for tasks where missing steps lead to frustration, such as:
  • Long division without knowledge of multiplication.
  • Daily activities like brushing teeth.
  • Complex skills like riding a bicycle or social interaction.
• It identifies the 'missing link' preventing skill completion.

Application of Task Analysis

• Example: Brushing Teeth
  • Analyze steps: Going to the sink, wetting toothbrush, squeezing toothpaste, etc.
  • Identify missing step (e.g., squeezing toothpaste) causing task failure.
  • Focus on teaching the isolated missing step (e.g., squeezing).

Benefits of Task Analysis

• Overcoming Overwhelm:
  • Helps parents and educators see what a child can already do.
  • Turns complex tasks into manageable teaching opportunities.
• Positive Reinforcement:
  • By isolating and teaching missed steps (e.g., squeezing paint tubes for fun), skills can be reinforced in a stress-free manner.

Conclusion

• Task analysis is a powerful tool in education, especially for those with learning difficulties.
• Allows for a structured, clear approach to teaching complex tasks by breaking them down.
• Empowers both educators and learners by focusing on what is achievable.

Note: The analogy of Swiss cheese is used to describe gaps in a child's knowledge or skills, emphasizing the need to address individual steps in a task for successful skill acquisition.