Definition
Broadly defined, curriculum refers to the content and order of instruction, the instructional strategies used to teach this content, and any assessment or other materials used to implement the educational program (Olley 1999, 2005). Curriculum is also structured by a conceptual framework to guide the treatment model in addressing the core deficits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promoting developmental outcomes (Wong et al. 2015). Behavioral curricula are a specific type of curriculum that incorporates behavioral principles (e.g., an emphasis on functional behavior, operationalizing behaviors and objectives, and measuring behavior). Behavioral curricula recognize the importance of individualizing the content, sequence, and method of instruction to best meet each individual’s needs (Gould et al. 2011). They also tend to target the reduction and replacement of interfering behaviors (e.g., stereotypic behavior, tantrums; Olley 2005). The characteristics of behavioral...
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Charlop, M.H., Thomas, B.R., Miltenberger, C. (2017). Behavioral Curricula. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_142-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_142-5
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