SPLED 503C Applied Behavior Analysis for Special Education: Extended Applications I (4): Topics include imitation, shaping, and chaining; planning for effective teaching; self-management and planning for generalization; augmentative and alternative communication; ABA in organizational settings; and verbal behavior. Prerequisite: SPLED 503A, SPLED 503B.

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Overview

This is the third course in the 18-credit Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate Program. This course covers basic behavior procedures and is a prerequisite to SPLED 503D. Successful completion of the five-course sequence results in the Penn State Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis.

The 18 credits that you earn by completing the program may be applied toward the requirements for certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). The BACB has approved our course sequence as meeting the 270-hour coursework requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA examination. Therefore, this program already meets the BACB’s 4^th Edition Task List requirements that will go into effect in January 2015. Completing this course sequence will indicate that you have met the BACB’s coursework requirement. Before you sit for the BCBA certification exam, the BACB requires that you also show proof of a master’s degree in an acceptable field of study, plus proof that you have accrued the required number of supervised experience hours. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet ALL of the current BACB standards.

Please visit the BACB’s website for detailed information about their certification process:  www.bacb.com.  Click on “Becoming Certified.”

The course content will build on the principles and procedures presented in SPLED 503A and 503B and will focus on extended applications of behavior analysis. Specific topics include:

• imitation, shaping, and chaining
• planning for effective teaching
• verbal behavior
• augmentative and alternative communication
• ABA in organizational settings
• self-management and planning for generalization

This course is delivered through a system of videostreamed lectures; online practice activities and assignments; asynchronous online communication between students and instructors (discussion forums); and online proctored examinations.

Course Management System (ANGEL)

This course utilizes ANGEL, Penn State's online course management system. Please consult the ANGEL User Guide for instructions on how to use it. The ANGEL website is located at https://cms.psu.edu.

Important: Use of the ANGEL course website is an integral and required part of this course. Students must log into ANGEL several times per week in order to complete course requirements, receive important announcements and updates, and communicate with instructors and other students about course content and requirements.

Please note that ANGEL maintenance will be conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. U.S. eastern time (ET), during which time ANGEL will be unavailable. A message will be posted on the ANGEL home page during each maintenance period as a reminder.

If you experience technical problems with ANGEL, call the World Campus HelpDesk at 800-252-3592 or 814-865-0047 or contact them online by visiting their website at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/technical-support. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to midnight (ET), Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (ET), and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to midnight (ET).

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Course Objectives

The primary purpose of the 18-credit ABA program is to prepare students to meet the requirements for behavior analyst certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Thus, the course is designed to prepare students to master the content required by the BACB and to sit for the certification examination. As such, course content and evaluation methods have been designed to closely follow the content and evaluation methods used by the BACB. Therefore, many activities (both graded and ungraded) follow the multiple-choice format used by the BACB in their certification examination. Although other assessment formats could have been used and are used for some activities and assignments, the multiple-choice format most closely aligns with the methods used by the board and therefore is most valid as preparation and practice for the exam.

After completing this course students should be able to:

• Describe imitation, shaping, and chaining and their uses in instruction/learning
• Discuss the principles of effective instruction and design an explicit lesson
• Define and provide examples of six different verbal operants
• Describe how AAC systems can be used to manage behavior
• Develop programs to increase the use of behavior analytic strategies in organizations
• Develop a plan for self-management using antecedent and consequent techniques
• Describe strategies and tactics for promoting generalization

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Required Course Materials

Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.

 

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Technical Requirements

For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:

Technical Requirements

Operating System	Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version
Processor	2 GHz or higher
Memory	1 GB of RAM
Hard Drive Space	20 GB free disk space
Browser	We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion, and for advice on downloading a supported version, please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers. Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses.
Plug-ins	Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe] Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe]
Additional Software	Microsoft Office (2007 or later)
Internet Connection	Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required
Printer	Access to graphics-capable printer
DVD-ROM	Required
Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers	Required
Monitor	Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution

If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the World Campus HelpDesk.

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Arranging a Proctor

You will need to secure a proctor in order to take exams in this course. A proctor will not automatically be assigned to you; rather, you must make the necessary contacts to secure a professional who will serve in this capacity.

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Contact Information

1. Dr. Charles Hughes is the lead instructor for this course. He may be reached by phone at 814-863-1699 or by e-mail at cah14@psu.edu.

2. If you have a question about course content, assignments, or exams you should contact the instructor responsible for the material in question. When leaving a message or sending an e-mail, be sure to leave a phone number where the instructor can reach you. Please remember to contact faculty in a timely manner. Faculty may be out of town or unavailable to answer queries immediately, so contact faculty with questions well in advance of quiz or assignment due dates.

David Lee	davidlee@psu.edu	814-865-3567
Mary Catherine Scheeler	mcs13@psu.edu	814-863-7500
Pamela Wolfe	psw7@psu.edu	814-863-8002
David McNaughton	dbm2@psu.edu	814-865-7159
Rick Kubina	rmk11@psu.edu	814-863-240

3. If you have questions concerning your registration status, billing, tuition and fees, or the proctored exam process, contact World Campus Student Enrollment Services at 800-252-3592 or 814-865-5403 or by e-mail at pennstateonline@psu.edu.

4. If you have questions concerning the textbooks, contact MBS Direct customer service at 800-325-3252 or 573-441-9179.

5. If you have a question or technical difficulties with ANGEL or your Penn State Access Account, contact the World Campus HelpDesk online or by phone at 800-252-3592 or 814-865-0047.  HelpDesk hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 12:00 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Sunday 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. all Eastern Time.

6. If you have questions concerning the academic content of any of the courses in the ABA sequence, you may contact Dr. David Lee, the academic coordinator for the program, at 814-865-3567 or by e-mail davidlee@psu.edu.

7. If you would like information regarding the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) or their certification process, please visit their website at www.BACB.com.

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Course Requirements

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Course Schedule

• Course Schedule: 13 Weeks

Course Schedule

Course Content	Activity	Submitted Through	Instructor	Text Chapters*
Lesson 1: Imitation, Shaping, and Chaining	Access the Proctored Exam Portal to secure a proctor for your exams Read the Syllabus Submit Assignment 1	ANGEL	Pam Wolfe	18, 19, 20
Lesson 2: Planning for Effective Teaching	Submit Assignment 2	ANGEL	Charles Hughes	See lesson
Lesson 6: Self-Management and Planning for Generalization	Submit Assignment 6	ANGEL	Charles Hughes	27, 28
	EXAM ONE (Lessons 1, 2, and 6, online proctored)	ANGEL
Lesson 4: AAC	Submit Assignment 4	ANGEL	David McNaughton	See lesson
Lesson 5: ABA in Organizational Settings	Submit Assignment 5	ANGEL	David Lee and Mary Catherine Scheeler	See lesson
Lesson 3: Verbal Behavior	Submit Assignment 3	ANGEL	Rick Kubina	25
	EXAM TWO (Lessons 4, 5, and 3, online proctored)	ANGEL

*Text chapters refer to the chapters in the Applied Behavior Analysis textbook by Cooper, Heron, and Heward--please also refer to the index in the textbook to direct you to discussions of specific topics throughout the book.

Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.

Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.

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Grading

1. There are six assignments worth 10 points each.
2. There are two exams worth 45 points each.
3. The completed Term Fluency Assessment Activity is worth 15 total points - one point for each of the ten weekly assessments plus 5 points for a completed graph.
4. It is possible to earn a maximum of 165 points.
5. Students should note that any delay in receiving assignments or exams might result in considerable delay in issuance of a final grade report.

Activity Points Possible

Activity	Points
Assignment 1	10
Assignment 2	10
Assignment 3	10
Exam 1	45
Assignment 4	10
Assignment 5	10
Assignment 6	10
Exam 2	45
Term Fluency Assessments	15
TOTAL POINTS	165

 

Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percentage Range
A	94-100%
A-	90-93%
B+	87-89%
B	83-86%
B-	80-82%
C+	77-79%
C	70-76%
D	60-69%
F	0-66%

Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.

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Statement of Ethical and Professional Conduct

While enrolled in this course and all graduate programs, individuals in the Applied Behavior Analysis program preparing to become behavior analysts are are expected to adhere to the Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (22 PA Code 235). Copies of the Code are available at http://www.teaching.state.pa.us. The program faculty considers violations of the code to be serious and will implement sanctions including course failure and/or expulsion from the program.

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Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.

In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.

All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .

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University Policies

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.

In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

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Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.

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