Looking for ways to improve student motivation? Try incorporating their special interest area into tasks to help them complete work.
What is a Student’s Special Interest Area (SIA)?
SIA refers to Special Interest Area. Incorporating a student’s SIA within academic tasks can serve as a motivator that promotes on-task behaviors.
Example:
I have a student who will not begin their writing work in English class. I have tried graphic organizers, adult assistance, and allowing them to dictate, but the student just doesn’t want to do the work. What can I do to motivate them to start their writing tasks?
Using Special Interest Area with Tasks
Many autistic individuals demonstrate strong enthusiasm for particular objects, activities, characters / media, or subject areas – these passions are known to the community as “special interests” and can be a powerful source of motivation for learners with autism.
Studies Support Special Interests
In one research study, adults with autism were surveyed to learn more about the role that their special interests play in their lives. Of adults who reported having one or more special interests, 81% reported that special interests played a positive role in their lives, and many reported that incorporation of special interest areas into the classroom did or could have increased motivation and engagement.
In another study, researchers found that autistic adults who reported one or more special interests and high motivation by these interests reported higher subjective well-being across domains of their lives.
SIAs Jump-Start Non-Preferred Academic Tasks
Special interests can be incorporated into many elements of a student’s instruction and can serve as a wonderful “jump-start” to writing or other challenging or non-preferred academic tasks. Students with special interests can often learn and work better if they are able to complete work involving their special interest areas, and many feel better able to persevere on challenging tasks when their interests can be incorporated in some way.
Be creative and explore ways to use your student’s special interests to increase their motivation and engagement!
Quick Facts
- Child’s Age: 6-17
- Planning Effort: Moderate
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Pre-requisites
Knowledge of learner’s special interest area(s)
How to Use SIA with Academic Tasks
- Identify the learner’s special interest area(s) by asking about these preferences or by observing the student during leisure or “free” time and noticing items / activities / themes of particular interest
- Identify which academic subjects or tasks are less-preferred or difficult for your student or commonly lead to off-task behavior
- Incorporate the special interest area into the task or activity. Some ways you might do so include:
- Theming assignments around special interest areas. For example, a student with a special interest in Pokémon could tackle an assignment involving writing about U.S. economics by researching who was president when Pokémon debuted and the effect of the video game industry on the U.S. economy.
- Incorporating images of special interests to customize visual supports. For example, a student with a special interest in bunnies may be more motivated to use a graphic organizer that features images of bunnies and carrots.
- Theming self-regulation / de-stressing activities around special interests. For example, a student with a special interest in fantasy books who is feeling overwhelmed by a writing assignment may take comfort in taking some “Dragon breaths”, holding a weighted unicorn toy, or looking at pictures of knights before resuming the task at hand.
Resources
From Toilet Brushes to Tarantulas (PDF)
Characterization and Utilization of Preferred Interests: A Survey of Adults on the Autism Spectrum (PDF)
Special Interests and Well-being in Autism (PDF)
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.
This resource was authored by Watson Institute Special Education Consultant, Karli Piskurich, Ph.D.