TeleConsult: A Remote Behavioral Health and Family Advocacy Model
Cristin M. Hall and Erica D. Culler, co-PIs; Megan C. Runion, project coordinator, lead consultant
The TeleConsult Project is a research project designed to better understand how family-focused remotely delivered consultation can help military families stationed abroad who have children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Families participate in the Remote Check-up: Autism to help guide decision making, access interactive online learning modules, and participate in weekly consultation with a psychology resident. The current study examines if parents gain knowledge and skills related to care coordination and advocacy, available treatments, behavior management, stress management, and autism. The TeleConsult Project also examines if these supports to parents help decrease parent stress, increase parent self-efficacy, and improve child symptoms and problem behaviors. For more information about this project, visit http://teleconsult.militaryfamilies.psu.edu
School 2.0 National Survey
Cristin M. Hall, PI; Erica D. Culler, co-Investigator; Leah J. Hunter, Student Investigator
The purpose of this study was to understand current patterns of school personnel’s Web 2.0 use, such as with social media applications, to include teachers, guidance counselors, and school psychologists, and its potential for assisting with the dissemination of empirically supported practices. Globally, Internet users spend more time on social media than on any other websites. This study sought to evaluate how Web 2.0 tools interact with users’ professional lives, especially in school settings. Specifically, a national survey of school personnel investigated professionals’ reported reasons for using Web 2.0, comfort and trust with using the tools, and their discrimination of evidence-based practices for social-emotional and academic strategies available on Web 2.0.
Social Media and Information Dissemination Project
Cristin M. Hall, PI and Nicole Breeden, Student Investigator
Social media websites, such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Teachers Pay Teachers, have increasingly been used by educational professionals to find information about a variety of topics for students including classroom management, academic and behavioral interventions, and social emotional learning activities. The present study includes the qualitative and quantitative examination of education-related content that is being shared by school psychologists and teachers. This research project includes examination of open-source online posted content and survey research related to the use of and perception of the utility of resources found on social media.
Online Learning and Parent Self-Efficacy for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cristin M. Hall and Erica D. Culler, co-PIs; Megan C. Runion, Student Investigator
Evidence-based services for families of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are failing to keep pace with identification and family need. Using remote delivery systems, researchers have provided eLearning and other services resulting in improved parent knowledge and skill levels, as well as child behavioral outcomes. While high satisfaction has been reported for these eLearning programs, utilization has varied. This study seeks to gather information about user characteristics and their corresponding utilization, knowledge, and satisfaction with an eLearning program for parents of children with an ASD. https://elearningforautism.wordpress.com/
Brief Online Interactive Resources for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: User-Friendly Explanations of Specialty Topics
Cristin M. Hall, PI; Leah J. Hunter and Anne Frank-Webb, Student Investigators
Parents often look to the Internet to find resources for their children with special needs, and online resources for parents of children with disabilities can be complicated, time-consuming, inaccessible, or even misleading. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and accessibility of brief interactive videos for disseminating information developed specifically for parents of children with autism to include Social Stories, Ambiguous Loss, Sleep Hygiene, and Gluten- or Casein-Free Diets. Specific outcomes are to examine parents’ appraisal of the topics, content, and format; best-serving purposes for the videos; and a cost-and-benefit analysis of developing and disseminating the videos online
Brief Online Interactive Resources for Parents of Children with Exceptionalities: Making Special Education Law Accessible
Erica D. Culler, PI; Leah J. Hunter, Anne Frank-Webb, and Megan C. Runion, Student Investigator
The laws related to special education can be confusing and difficult to understand for the average family, especially when parents experience concerns related to their child’s need for educational support and meeting special education criteria. The present study examines the perception of information specifically related to the educational law provided to families of children with disabilities. This research project includes the development of and dissemination of brief informational videos that explain the important key concepts of the relevant laws and procedures related to the evaluation of children for special education consideration. In addition, the videos will also explain how parents can gain access to special education programs for their child, once their child has been identified to meet criteria, and how parents can address disagreements with their child’s school, should such disagreements arise.
Parent Engagement, Learning Motivation, and Effects on Early Literacy Skills for Tablet-Delivered Fantasy-Based Gaming and Story Books for Preschool Children
Cristin M. Hall and Karen L. Bierman, faculty advisors; Robert Urbassik, Student Investigator
Technology, and more specifically tablets, are increasingly being used by younger children as sources of entertainment. Some companies and individuals are beginning capitalize on early learners using tablets by providing tablet applications as a source of education for young children. Many of the current applications available have little to no empirical evidence supporting the use of a specific application. The focus of the current study is to examine, quantitatively, a specific early learning and school readiness application to determine the benefits for young children. In addition, the effects of providing text message reminders to parents will be measured, as well as the motivational effects of including a narrative including characters within the tablet application.