The Impact of Pictorial Representations in Teaching Math Word Problems to a Child with Autism
Hosin Shirvani *
Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Dr. EDCC 2.644, Edinburg, TX, United States
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study used a single subject A-B-A research design because it used one subject, an 18-year old boy participant who was diagnosed with having higher spectrum Autism (Asperger). The investigator examined the effect of pictorial representations of math word problems on the participant’s performance in solving one step, two steps, and three steps math word problems. The investigator found that the use pictorial representations improved the participant’s math achievement in solving math word problems. The investigator also found that the participant had difficulty understanding words with mathematical connotations.
Keywords: Autism, asperger, mathematics, special education, learning, divisions, fractions