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The purpose of this study was to further address the "for whom" in the question of the effectiveness of modified schema-based instruction (MSBI) to teach mathematical problem solving to students with intellectual and developmental disability by evaluating whether positive outcomes from prior research would be replicated with elementary students in a different context. We aimed to analyze the "under what conditions" variable and assess feasibility of teacher-implemented MSBI in a small group. This study evaluated the effect of teacher-implemented MSBI in a small-group setting on level of independence in and maintenance of mathematical problem solving for elementary students with extensive support needs in semi-rural Australia. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

The "Next Generation Science Standards" framework outlines scientific and engineering practices as a key element of student development. Educators are just beginning to discover effective and meaningful ways to teach science content to students with intellectual disability; however, the literature on teaching science practices is still limited and engineering practices nonexistent. This study utilized a quasi-experimental group design to investigate the impact of universally designed engineering curriculum on 43 students with intellectual disability and autism display of engineering habits of mind (e.g., persist and learn from failure) during ongoing "Engineering is Elementary" design challenges. A statistically significant difference between the control and treatment groups was found. Findings suggest engineering instruction may support student development of problem-solving skills.