title: Evaluation of Classroom Active Engagement in Elementary Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: This study evaluated the classroom measure of active engagement (CMAE), an observational tool designed to measure active engagement in students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants included 196 students with ASD and their educators (n = 126) who were video-recorded at the beginning of the school year. Findings documented limited active engagement overall, with students spending less than half of the observation well-regulated, productive, or independent and infrequently directing eye gaze and communicating. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the structure of the CMAE was represented by a 5-factor model. These findings underscore the need for improved active engagement in students with ASD and show promise for a tool to measure behaviors associated with positive educational outcomes in students with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University Autism Institute, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 72, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, USA. Nicole.Sparapani@asu.edu.|The Institute of the Science of Teaching and Learning, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 872111, Tempe, AZ, 85287-2111, USA. Nicole.Sparapani@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sparapani
authors.affiliation: Florida State University Autism Institute, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 72, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, USA. lindee.morgan@med.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Lindee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Florida State University Autism Institute, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 72, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, USA. reinhardt@psy.fsu.edu.|Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA. reinhardt@psy.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Vanessa P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA. schatschneider@psy.fsu.edu.|Department of Psychology, Florida Center for Reading Research, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA. schatschneider@psy.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schatschneider
authors.affiliation: Florida State University Autism Institute, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 72, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, USA. amy.wetherby@med.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wetherby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Active engagement; Autism spectrum disorder; Classroom participation; Emotional regulation; Initiating communication; Social connectedness