The Effectiveness of Using a Pocket PC as a Video Modeling and Feedback Device for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Vocational Settings

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using a pocket PC to teach two adolescents with mild and moderate cognitive impairments vocational tasks in competitive, community-based settings. Participants were taught three different tasks in their respective work sites through video rehearsal and video feedback strategies. Video files were presented on a pocket PC prior to task engagement and following repeated errors (video feedback). Effectiveness of the video-based strategies and the utility of the handheld device were evaluated using a multiple probe design across tasks and participants. Outcomes of the study indicate that the introduction of the video-based procedures was associated with significant increases in independent responding and participants met criterion on all three tasks within 3-7 sessions (M=5 sessions). Although there were large changes in the level of data once the video-based materials were presented, outcomes are somewhat tempered by the fact that some of the baselines for each participant were slightly ascending prior to the introduction of the independent variable.