Show Behavioural Skills TrainingBehavioural Skills Training (BST) is a five-step process that can be used to teach a variety of skills to children of all ages, regardless of ability levels. Here are examples of skills that can be developed using BST:
 For many years, researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of BST. The approach not only aims to explain the skill to the child, but also allows them to see an example of the skill they are seeking to develop, and to practice using it while receiving immediate feedback. It also allows adults to confirm that the child is really able to demonstrate the skill in different environments. Prerequisite Skills for BSTTo ensure the success of BST, it is important that the child has mastered the skills prior to the targeted skill. For example, if the targeted skill is “walking on the sidewalk”, you must first ensure that the child is able to walk close to the adult and follow instructions (e.g., “Stay close to me.”) In addition, before starting BST, it is important to make sure that the child has mastered the following specific skills.
The five Steps of BSTBST has five steps which are presented here in the order in which they are usually performed with the child. Note, however, that BST is not always a linear process. For example, after completing steps 3 and 4, you may find it necessary to go back to step 1. This will depend on the child and their progress. Here is a description of each step.
You can find a printable version of those five steps here. This cycle can be repeated as many times as necessary. It is also recommended to use prompting and
reinforcement to increase chances of success. Refer to these sections for more information on the subject. Here are three examples of Behavioural Skills Training sessionsPlanning and Implementing BSTHere is a presentation with some information that can help you plan and implement BST with a child. Final thoughtsBehavioural Skills Training (BST) is a strategy that can be used to teach a variety of skills. It consists of providing instruction and modeling after which the child can practice implementing the skill while receiving feedback from the adult. This cycle, or one of its steps in particular, can be repeated as many times as necessary. The adult can also use prompts and reinforcement to promote the child’s success. We’ve heard this expression over and over again and it is often at the core of different methods for teaching new skills. ABA practitioners use Behavioural Skills Training (BST) because it is an evidence-based training method that
has been shown to be effective in teaching people all sorts of skills, from things like tying shoes, to working complex machinery. BST has 4 basic steps, they are: Instruction (Explain the skill): The instructor is clear and concise and lays out expectations and consequences for appropriate behaviours as well as instructions on how the task is to be completed. They may also provide a rationale for the skill or describe why it is important. For example: Someone using BST to teach appropriate movie-going behaviour would initially explain, “When you are in the theatre you must walk slowly, stay within arms reach of me, and use a quiet voice, so that everyone can hear and get to their movie on time.” Modelling (Show the skill): The instructor creates an opportunity wherein they can model the skill they are teaching their learners. This creates a
reference point for the learner to come back as they learn the skill. For example: Someone using BST to teach movie-going behaviour would show the learner what walking slowly, staying close, and speaking quietly look like by physically performing these actions or showing a video clip of someone performing these actions. Rehearsal (Practice the skill): The instructor creates an opportunity for the
learners to practice performing the desired skill.
Feedback (Report on how the skill was performed): The instructor provides calm, factual, and helpful feedback to the learner on how the skill was performed and then provides rewards (ABA people would say positive reinforcement) for successful performance and more training on whatever the learner may still need help learning.
Different people learn differently and, using the movie theatre example above, some may quickly learn to walk quietly, but may struggle staying close and keeping their voice low. With others it may be the opposite. BST provides learners with many opportunities to perform all parts of a skill along with modelling from those that already know how to perform the skill. While anyone can use the steps of BST to teach someone, it is important that the person using BST have a good relationship (in ABA terms we call that being “paired”) with the individual they are teaching. It is also important to be able to adapt to the learner’s needs. For example, a teacher using BST with someone that has a sensitivity to sound may use visual instructions or the least amount of words while speaking/describing a skill. Sometimes, when we don’t feel understood, or when we think others haven’t understood us, we may want to think of other ways to explain things. While we may say things that are very true and full of good information, it can actually make it less likely that you will successfully teach the skill. Remember that it’s better to keep it simple and show your learner what you mean than tell them; then give them the chance to practice it, giving feedback and rewards for doing the skill correctly. Interested in learning more? Check out these resources on Behavioural Skills Training (BST): https://bsci21.org/behavior-skills-training-in-4-steps/ https://prezi.com/qdv493njkua7/behavioral-skills-training-procedures/ What are steps of behavioral skills training BST?Behavior Skills Training (BST) is a four-step procedure for teaching new skills, involving the following: Instruction, Modeling, Rehearsal, and Feedback (Miltenberger, 2004).
What are the components of social skills training?Social skills training is not a specific curriculum, but rather a collection of practices that use a behavioral approach for teaching preschool children age-appropriate social skills and competencies, including communication, problem solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relations.
What are the key behavioral skills?What are examples of behavioral skills?. Communication. This behavioral skill can include many areas of communication, such as nonverbal cues, active listening and the ability to write clearly. ... . Empathy. ... . Time management. ... . Self-improvement. ... . Conflict resolution. ... . Decision-making. ... . Choose one skill. ... . Find opportunities for practice.. Which component of behavioral skills training involves demonstrating the correct behavior for the learner?modeling- demonstrating for the learner the correct behavior. rehearsal- Allowing the learner to demonstrate the correct behavior in the scenario. feedback- providing praise when the behavior is correctly executed and providing correction if needed.
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