The Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning and Drama Techniques in Acquisition of Social Skills by the Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a social skills teaching program, developed on the basis of cooperative learning and drama, in teaching self-introduction skills to students with intellectual disabilities. Multiple probe design across subjects, one of the single subject designs, was used. Three students with intellectual disabilities and nine peers without special needs were participants of the study. Results showed that students with intellectual disabilities learned social skills (initiating relationship skills), maintained the acquired social skills to certain extend at the 1st, 3rd and 4th weeks after the implementation, and generalized the acquired skills across other peers in unstructured free-play activities in their schools.