Skip to main content

Precision Teaching

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Definition

Precision teaching is a behavioral evaluation method for instruction and curricula that focuses on frequency data (Merbitz et al. 2004a). More specifically, precision teaching requires that instructors set a specific measureable and observable goal, select a method of instruction, conduct daily assessments of the learner’s performance, and chart the number of correct and incorrect responses on a standard celeration chart. The core strength of precision teaching lies in the scientific rigor that it brings to the field of education (Kubina and Yurich 2009). Teachers have the opportunity when using this approach to observe, describe, record, and analyze a behavior, allowing them to make informed decisions concerning the effectiveness of the current method of teaching. This constant progress monitoring and charting provides the instructor with an easy-to-read, graphic representation of the learner’s progress that can be used to develop an effective instructional program. If the...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Binder, C., & Watkins, C. L. (1990). Precision teaching and direct instruction: Measurably superior instruction technology in schools. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 3(4), 74–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavallini, F., Berardo, F., & Perini, S. (2010). Mental retardation and reading rate: Effects of precision teaching. Life Span and Disability, 13, 87–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabrizio, M. A., & Moors, A. L. (2003). Evaluating mastery: Measuring instructional outcomes for children with autism. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 4, 23–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haughton, E. C. (1980). Practicing practices: Learning by activity. Journal of Precision Teaching, 1, 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K., & Street, E. M. (2012). Response to intervention and precision teaching: Creating synergy in the classroom. New York: Guilford Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, K. P., Smyth, P., & McDowell, C. (2003). Precision teaching children with autism: Helping design effective programs. Early Child Development and Care, 173(4), 399–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kubina, R. M., & Yurich, K. K. L. (2009). Developing behavioral fluency for students with autism: A guide for parents and teachers. Intervention in School and Clinic, 44, 131–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kubina, R. M., & Yurich, K. K. L. (2012). The precision teaching book. Lemont: Greatness Achieved.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubina, R. M., Morrison, R., & Lee, D. L. (2002). Benefits to adding precision teaching to behavioral interventions for students with autism. Behavioral Intervention, 17, 233–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kubina, R. M., Commons, M. L., & Heckard, B. (2009). Using precision teaching with direct instruction in a summer school program. Journal of Direct Instruction, 9, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsley, O. R. (1964). Direct measurement and prosthesis of retarded behavior. Journal of Education, 147, 62–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsley, O. R. (1992). Precision teaching: Discoveries and effects. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 51–57.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lolich, E., McLaughlin, T. F., & Weber, K. P. (2012). The effects of using reading racetracks combined with direct instruction precision teaching and a token economy to improve the reading performance for a 12-year-old student with learning disabilities. Academic Research International, 3, 245–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lydon, S., Burns, N., Healy, O., O’Connor, P., McDermott, B. R., & Byrne, D. (2017). Preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of an intervention incorporating precision teaching to train procedural skills among final cycle medical students. BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning. Published Online First: 13 February 2017. doi: 10.1136/bmjstel-2016-000154

    Google Scholar 

  • Merbitz, C., Vieitez, D., Merbitz, N., & Pennypacker, H. S. (2004a). Precision teaching: Foundations and classroom applications. In D. J. Moran & R. W. Malott (Eds.), Evidence-based educational methods (pp. 47–61). San Diego: Elsevier/Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Merbitz, C., Vieitez, D., Merbitz, N. H., & Binder, C.(2004b). Precision teaching: Applications in education and beyond. In D. J. Moran & R. W. Malott (Eds.), Evidence-based educational methods (pp. 63–80). San Diego: Elsevier/Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • National Autism Center (2009, 2015). National Standards Report. Randolph: National Autism Center

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramey, D., Lydon, S., Healy, O., McCoy, A., Holloway, J., & Mulhern, T. (2016). A systematic review of the effectiveness of precision teaching for individuals with developmental disabilities. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 3, 179–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schirmer, K., Almon-Morris, H., Fabrizio, M. A., Abrahamson, B., & Chevalier, K. (2007). Using precision teaching to teach storytelling to a young child with autism. Journal of Precision Teaching and Celeration, 23, 23–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Travis, J., McLaughlin, T. F., Derby, K. M., & Carosella, M. (2012). The differential effect of racetrack procedures for saying letter sounds by two first-grade students with learning disabilities. Academic Research International, 2, 372–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, M. J., Fabrizio, M., & Bamond, M. (2008). Skill maintenance and frequency building: Archival data from individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Precision Teaching and Celeration, 24, 28–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, O. R. (1986). Precision teaching. Exceptional Children, 52, 522–534.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marjorie H. Charlop .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media LLC

About this entry

Cite this entry

Charlop, M.H., Gilder, J., Miltenberger, C. (2017). Precision Teaching. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_166-5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_166-5

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics