…..Using Task Analysis

Now that you have decided to teach the program via a TA, you need to complete the fields specific to TA’s. Some of this information will have already been completed in the Program Library. You simply need to edit the following fields to fit the client that you are designing this program for.

• Enter the number of Steps in the TA. You will be able to enter the actual steps at the bottom of this screen. TA’s are limited to 20 steps. For programs longer than 20 steps, you need to divide the program into sections and enter each as a separate program and then teach chaining the two programs together for the complete skill acquisition.

• Select the Procedural Type for the specific program category you are using. For a TA, the choices include Backward Chaining, Forward Chaining, Total Task, and Backward Chaining with Leap-Aheads. This information will appear to staff on the iPad above the step wheel.

• If having the TA completed within a designated amount of time is important to you, check off the Limited Hold box. Then enter the amount of time for the Limited Hold. This information will appear on the procedure sheet that staff will see on the iPad.

• At the bottom of the SCP screen, you will see a number of fields for entering the steps of your TA. Remember, you can only enter up to 20 steps in one TA. TA’s with more than 20 steps need to be split into multiple programs and then chained together.
  • The steps of the TA are entered into the fields labeled Step 1, Step 2, etc.
  • Under these fields you will see additional fields labeled Step 1 Options, Step 2 Options, etc. These options include checkboxes for you to identify the step as a Training step, a Data step, and/or a Probe step. You can check off multiple options or no options.
    • Training – checking off this box means that the prompt sequence and fading process that you will specify will be applied to this step, and staff will see the prescribed prompt on the app and be prompted to take data on this step on the app
    • Data – checking off this box means that staff will be prompted to take data on this step on the app; typically used after independence has been achieved; Independent will be prescribed on the prompt wheel on the app. Staff will spin the wheel to select the prompt actually used.
    • Probe – checking off this box means that you would like some data on this step; the prompts for staff to select from will be present on the wheel and Independent will be prescribed. Staff will spin the wheel to select the prompt actually used.
    • None selected – the step will appear on the app step-wheel, however, no data can be taken on the step as the save icon will not be present on the app for this step.

Notice in this example that only steps 8, 9, and 10 have option boxes selected. This is a backward chaining TA where the data on the ending steps is of interest initially to the program writer.