TTIPSS—A Computer-Based System for Training Problem Solving and Educational Planning

Abstract

Children with special educational needs are at risk for developing maladjustment behaviors, and special education teachers need specific training for meeting children's challenging behaviors with effective strategies. In line with Shulman's paradigm of instructional knowledge, TTIPSS as an interactive technology-based system was designed to support teachers' problem solving training for promoting interventional planning. Utilizing the advantages of the expert-system technology in teacher training, the five training stages of TTIPSS were presented: (a) case description, (b) formulating the preliminary hypothesis, (c) collecting additional information through questions from four different sources: observations, the psychologist's report, parents' inter-view and the child's view, (d) intervention planning and (e) evaluation. Preliminary pilot reflected teachers' satisfaction and focused attention at needed changes. A sample session illustrates the teachers' patterns of interactions with the system.