Martin Agran

Promoting Causal Agency: The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction

Teachers seeking to promote the self-determination of their students must enable them to become self-regulated problem-solvers. This article introduces a model of teaching, The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction, incorporating principles of self-determination, which enables teachers to teach students to become causal agents in their own lives. This model was field-tested with students with disabilities. Students receiving instruction from teachers using the model attained educationally relevant goals, showed enhanced self-determination, and communicated their satisfaction with the process. Teachers implementing the model likewise indicated their satisfaction with the process and suggested that they would continue to use the model after the completion of the field test.

Promoting Access to the General Curriculum by Teaching Self-Determination Skills

Although participation and progress in the general curriculum is mandated for all students, models to achieve such access often neglect students with more severe disabilities. Promoting self-determination linked to standards is an entry point to ensuring access to the general curriculum for all students, including students with severe disabilities. In this study, middle school students with intellectual disabilities alternately learned problem-solving and study planning skills linked to language arts, science, and social studies standards. Students in both intervention groups showed significantly more capacity on the targeted skill as compared to the alternating control group, and all students achieved goals at better than average levels. Promoting self-determination provides students with disabilities with additional strategies to access the general curriculum.

Access to the General Curriculum of Middle School Students with Mental Retardation An Observational Study

The IDEA requires participation and progress in the general curriculum by all students. However, there is limited knowledge about the degree to which students with mental retardation have such access. This study examined the degree to which middle school students with mental retardation have access to the general curriculum and the impact of the classroom setting and the students level of ability on such access. Findings indicated that students with mental retardation were most likely to participate with the general curriculum in the general education classroom and were less likely to engage in activities linked to a standard if they had more severe disabilities. Many students were engaged in activities in the general curriculum, but there was room for improvement in providing curricular modifications to promote access.

Increasing the Problem-Solving Skills of Students with Developmental Disabilities Participating in General Education

Although skill in problem solving is critical to success in school and the community, as well as to promoting student self-determination, problem solving remains a neglected curriculum area for students with developmental disabilities. Using the self-determined learning model, 4 students with mental retardation or developmental disabilities were taught problem-solving skills to achieve self-set goals. A multiple-baseline-across-participants design was used, and the instruction was provided in general education content classes. Target behaviors included increasing appropriate touching, increasing contributions to class discussion, and increasing direction following. Data revealed immediate and dramatic changes for all participants, with performance levels maintained at 100%. Anecdotal social validation data supported the findings. The implications of these findings in respect to promoting self-determination and inclusive practice are discussed.

The Effects of Peer Delivered Self-Monitoring Strategies on the Participation of Students With Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

This study investigated the effects of self-monitoring instruction delivered by peer tutors on the occurrence of academic survival skills displayed by five middle school students with severe disabilities. We employed a multiple baseline across subjects design. Instruction was provided in general education content classes. The students were taught to indicate on a self-recording sheet if they performed each of 11 skills. Data revealed an increase in the percentages of occurrence of survival skills across all students. Also, their general education teachers indicated that they observed a positive change for four of the five students. All students indicated that they believed that they were part of the class and reported an increase in their classroom participation. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adaptability Instruction: The Goal of Transitional Programming:

This article describes an instructional model designed to teach students generic employment adaptability skills. Failure to acclimate to a dynamic work environment has been suggested as a primary reason for job termination. The need to adapt to changes in work environments and maintain acceptable levels of work performance is critical for employment success. The model describes how to teach students to adapt to these changes and includes four major components: (a) decision making, (b) independent performance, (c) self-evaluation, and (d) adjustment. Implications for transitional programming are addressed.

Participation of Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities in the General Curriculum: The Effects of the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction

This study investigated the effects of the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) on the academic skill performance of three junior high school students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. The academic skills taught were aligned to the district general curriculum, and extended benchmarks were individually determined. The students were instructed to engage in a self-regulated problem-solving strategy, as well as to use one or more additional student-directed learning strategies. The results suggested that all students were able to acquire and maintain target academic skills to mastery levels. Also, all stakeholders had positive perceptions about the value of such instruction. The implications of these findings relative to the general curriculum initiative are discussed.

Enhancing the Involvement of Rehabilitation Counselors in the Transition Process

Although rehabilitation counselors potentially play a vital role in the transition process, available data suggest that their participation has been limited. Based upon responses to two surveys, this study examined how and to what extent rehabilitation counselors participate in the transition process. One survey was sent to a sample of special educators, the other to a sample of rehabilitation counselors. The findings suggest that the role rehabilitation counselors serve is inadequate, exacerbated by the finding that many counselors are not being invited to transition planning meetings by school personnel, parents, or teachers. The implications of the findings are discussed, and recommendations for promoting better collaboration are suggested.

Behaviors That Contribute to Entry-Level Employment: A Profile of Five Jobs

Research has identified many behaviors that appear to be related to the employment success of mentally retarded workers. In this study, competitive employment supervisors who were drawn from five entry-level occupations judged the importance and frequency of 23 work-related behaviors. Differences were found between the jobs in the relative importance and frequency of some behaviors. Moreover, there was a set of important core skills that was found to be generally applicable across entry-level jobs. The data are discussed in terms of their relevance for developing employment preparation curricula for entry-level workers.

The Effects of Self-Regulation Strategies on Goal Attainment for Students with Developmental Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

Self-regulation and other student-directed learning strategies have the potential to benefit students with developmental disabilities and mental retardation in general education classrooms. However, to date, there is little information about use of such strategies in general education classrooms, particularly at the secondary education level. This study examined the effect of a self-regulation multicomponent process (antecedent cue regulation or self-monitoring with self-evaluation and self-reinforcement) with 3 students with developmental disabilities in typical classrooms. Use of the self-regulation strategies improved adaptive behaviors related to class participation or decreased problem behaviors for all students. Also, teachers working with students indicated that they had exceeded their expectations for achieving goals related to the target behaviors. The potential for use of self-regulation strategies to promote successful inclusion is discussed.