ABSTRACT
This research study aims to develop and evaluate a gross motor assessment tool for children with autism. This study specifically determined the existing gross motor skills assessment tools which are used to evaluate children. It also identified the gross motor skills manifested by the children with autism and the skill’s factor loadings in the development of this assessment tool. The ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate) Model was used as its research design. There were three (3) phases identified in the conduct of the research. Phase 1 was the needs analysis phase, and a focus group discussion (FGD) was used with six special and early childhood educators. Phase 2 was the design and development phase. Inputs from Physical and Special Education experts were generated to organize the items that will be included in the assessment tool. The third and last phase was the implementation and development phase. Thirty-four (34) learners with autism participated in the study. It was found out that there is a standardized tool being used by the teachers in assessing gross motors but it is intended for regular students only. There was no standardized test for student with autism. The design and development of the gross motor assessment tool generated ten (10) significant items that were needed to clearly evaluate the child with autism in terms of its gross motors. These items were balance, coordination, walking, running, hopping, jumping, sliding, skipping, leaping and galloping. The results show that these skills were considered to be important in the assessment tool having a high factor loading value and is very reliable with a Cronbach Alpha of 0.875. The feedback of the teachers were also generated and have emphasized the importance of assessing and evaluating the gross motor skills of students as it is one of the crucial skills for them to move on the a higher and complex skills, and for these children to maximize their potential as individual.
Keywords: Physical Education, Gross Motor Skills, Autism, ADDIE, Philippines
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