Improving Motor Skills Development of Autistic Students Through Physical Education

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether six autistic students better improve their gross motor skills and endurance by performing teacher and student led body spatial activities in gym class. A quasi- experimental design was used for the study utilizing a pre-test / post-test assessment strategy. After having gross motor skills assessed using a basic motor skills test, students participated in the study over the course of 30 days. At the beginning of each class period, students either participated in teacher-directed or student-directed activities consisting of locomotor movements. At the end of the 30 days, a gross motor skills test was used once again to determine whether these activities produced a greater increase in their motor skills. The results of the post-test indicate that there is no difference in improvement between the students.