Using iPad tablets for self-modeling with preschoolers: Videos versus photos

As technology becomes more accessible and acceptable in the preschool setting, teachers need effective strategies of incorporating it to address challenging behaviors. A nonconcurrent delayed multiple baseline design in combination with an alternating treatment design was utilized to investigate the effects of using iPad tablets to display video self-modeling and activity photos for three preschoolers during circle time. During baseline, all three children demonstrated low levels of engagement and high levels of off-task behavior compared to peers. The intervention phase consisted of alternating between showing the child the self-video and photos prior to circle time. A child preference phase was conducted whereby each child self-selected the video or photo prior to circle time. For all three children both videos and photos led to increased engagement and decreased off-task behaviors. During the child preference phase, all three children selected the video most frequently. Social validity data demonstrated teacher and child preference for the video self-modeling condition.