Seven Steps for Setting up a Stellar Autism Room
… or how to incorporate these steps into your general ed room
1. Organization and Planning
2. Classroom Structure
3. Schedules
4. Visuals
5. Data
6. Work Tasks, Academic Work, and IEP Goals
7. Communication
Data
Ooooohhh data – my one true love. I’m not even being sarcastic. I love data like sorority girls love polka dots. As a future behavior analyst, I live and breath data. Applied Behavior Analysis is all about making data based decisions, taking data that is reliable and accurate, and using scientific based processes to analyze the relationship between behaviors and the environment. So yea I’m a self admitted data nerd. I’ve turned my two aides into little data taking machines and I just love it!
How I chart my data: I chart all of my students’ data on Numbers on the iPad (here is a tutorial!). It’s an awesome app that keeps everything super organized and in one place. I love that it’s on the iPad and I can bring it all around the room to where all my data sheets are when I’m updating my charts. I usually update my charts once a week. I wish I did it more often but I honestly just don’t have the time. Weekly isn’t ideal but it’s not the worst either so I’m okay with 🙂 Look at some of my beautiful data:
How I organize my data: I have gone through maaaaaaaany phases with my data organization. I have done a binder per student system, a binder per stations system, a big binder with everyone, a post it system – you name it, I’ve probably tried. My best piece of advice is: find a system that works for you! You can have the best data taking system but it will be worthless if you don’t actually use it! Figure out a way that will be easy enough for you to use on a daily basis. There is so much going on in our classrooms that we need a data system that is easy!
- In my direct instruction station, I have a cardboard folder for each student where I put all the relevant papers we are working and their data clipboard. On this data sheet goes all goals I work on at the “teacher time” station and all other miscellaneous goals (community goals etc.). On this data sheet I also keep track of where I am taking data on the other goals so I know where all the data is for each student.
- For the stations my aides run, they have data sheets for each student for the goals they run. I chart the data they take weekly and the we discuss how they are going and if we need to make changes. This system works really well for me. I think my aides feel like they have some ownership since I involve them in the decision making. I show them the charts as they are updated which I think is motivating as well.
- For data that is taken in other locations, the data is at the stations where the data is taken! So simple yet so brilliant. I even go so far as to velcro a pencil next to the data sheet. My aides made fun of me at first but you better believe you won’t be taken data if you don’t have a pencil… Other places we take data are at the work station center, table time, on visual schedule completion, hygiene – and all of those data sheets are in that center.
- For data on behavior, I keep a set of data clip boards in the middle of the room on a board. I keep all relevant behavior information on this board actually. These change out throughout the year as other behaviors become more prevalent you and you may want to be taking more frequent data.
- fill in the names of the students if you are using the same sheet for multiple student fill in the names of the sets you are working on (multiplication, kitchen words, numbers, etc.)
- for discrete trial – fill in the names of items ahead of time (ie: if you working on letter identification – fill in the letters in the data sheet)
- make codes for prompts (pp= partial physical, v=verbal, g= gestural etc.)
- create sheets so you are circling when possible – ie: circle what prompt you used instead of writing it in
Here is my set of 20 data sheets on TpT! It’s one my best sellers!
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Do you use ABLLS? If so do you chart the data in Numbers for iPad?
I use the ABLLS but don’t chart the results in the iPad but that’s a great idea!
how often do you collect data? For example, do you collect data 1:1 with each student every week, or every day during each group time? I’ve struggled with figuring out the best and most efficient system of WHEN to collect data; there have been times where I feel like I’m just tracking/collecting data instead of actually teaching the concepts/skills, then assessing and collecting data. I’ve tried doing our small group lessons/activities first and pulling students more 1:1 throughout the day to work on individual goals and then progress monitoring that once a week…I feel like I’m constantly changing how I do it!
thanks 🙂
I am looking at keeping data on Numbers on my iPad as you have shown but not having a lot of luck right now. Currently, I break the IEP objectives up between adults in my classroom. That way I know data is being taken on each objective. My ESP’s are also required to collect a certain number of data points each week and they also graph it on the computer. They then give me the data weekly for me to review as well as for us to discuss to see if the difficulty level of an activity needs to increase or decrease. It seems as though we are constantly taking data, and I am hoping for a better way to do it.
What about doing on google drive so everyone can access easily? Sounds like you have a really good system in place! It is a constant data process though. Love that you are making data based decisions!! 🙂
how do you access the data sheet(s) on google drive?
Hi Sasha unfortunately I do not have an IPAD just a Macbook pro. Can I do the same thing with Excel? and where can I go to learn how. I love what the app can do or is there a version for the computer? Thank you.
Hello,
I wanted to know if there is a version of this App for Macbook pro? or can Excel be used? If so how.
Thank you
Yes! I use Google Drive which you can use anywhere. Planning a video tutorial of it soon!
Within the Numbers app what Template do you use? I’m liking the idea of being able to collect data on the iPad and have access to it in different places.
I don’t use a template I just create the table in a blank page! 🙂
Im grateful for the post.Thanks Again.
I am not fond of data, but I know how important it is. I really like your method.