Using Adaptive Computer-based Instruction to Teach Staff to Implement a Social Skills Intervention
Computer-based Train-to-Code reliably teaches staff to run social skills groups without live trainers.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Mailey et al. (2021) tested a computer program called Train-to-Code. The program teaches adults how to run a social skills group for students.
Staff watched short clips and typed what they saw. The software gave hints that slowly went away. No live trainer was needed.
What they found
Every adult scored higher after the program. They used the social skills steps correctly with real students. The gains stayed without extra coaching.
How this fits with other research
Rosales et al. (2018) used the same software first. They taught PECS, not social skills. Both studies show the code-teaching tool works for new tasks.
Green et al. (2020) taught the same social skill package live. They used the teaching interaction steps face-to-face. Mailey moved those steps inside the computer.
Baruni et al. (2025) swapped the lesson to firearm safety. Their short module also hit high fidelity. Together, the three papers say: once you build the computer coach, you can swap in any skill.
Why it matters
You can stop holding long in-person workshops. Load the social skills script into Train-to-Code and let new staff click through on their first day. You save trainer hours and still get solid fidelity. Try it next time you hire RBTs for lunch-bunch groups.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Email your IT team a link to the free Train-to-Code demo and assign it to new hires before their first social group.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of an adaptive, computer-based staff training software program called Train-to-Code (TTC) to teach the administration of a social skills intervention. The software program actively trained participants to identify whether video models illustrated each step of the procedure effectively or ineffectively. Multiple exemplars of each step of the social skills task analysis were represented. Most-to-least prompting as well as feedback and error correction were embedded into the software program and prompts were faded through seven levels as the participant reached criterion accuracy. A multiple-probe across participants design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of this program by comparing pre- and post-training in vivo probes conducted with a confederate learner. All participant scores increased from pre-training to post-training, indicating that Train-to-Code was effective at teaching administration of the social skills intervention. These results have implications for training staff in applied community settings. Due to Train-to-Code's ability to be internet-based and to measure actual viewing performance, it has the potential for "distance training" deliveries.
Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 2021 · doi:10.1080/01608061.2020.1776807