The Purpose of Supervision – Dr. Jose Martinez-Diaz and Dr. Allison King

Emphasizes the purpose of supervision and the importance of being an excellent behavior analytic supervisor. Describes the changes that often occur in the field of behavior analysis and how it affects what supervisors need to know. Uses examples, stories and suggestions from the research to describe and demonstrate the purpose of effective, ethical supervision and the potential negative outcomes of ineffective supervision in the field of behavior analysis. Describes, using personal and professional experiences over a lengthy career as a behavior analyst, the ethical and professional aspects of being a good behavior-analytic supervisor and how this affects service delivery, client outcomes, supervisee development and ultimately the field of behavior analysis as a whole. Provides insight into the dark side of supervision and how poor supervisory practices can lead to poor outcomes and poor reputation of the science.

Important Features of Supervision – Corey Robertson

Provides instruction about the important features of the supervision process to individuals seeking to become supervisors for upcoming behavior analysts. Includes potential legal issues, supervisor requirements and special considerations across upcoming BCBAs and BCaBAs, and ongoing supervision of BCaBAs and RBTs. Provides examples and samples of contracts and tracking sheets and discusses special considerations for remote supervision.

Holding Effective Meetings – Shauna Costello

Applies organizational behavior management (OBM) research to determine the function of meetings and how to run meetings more effectively and efficiently. Provides tools and templates to help students create agendas for supervision meetings and to evaluate for the meeting chairperson behaviors students may (or may not) be engaging in. Summarizes and explores empirical studies concerning meetings in relation to the functions and strategies outlined in the course.

Behavioral Skills Training for Supervisors – Dr. Kristin Myers-Kemp

Provides an in-depth look at behavioral skills training, also known as BST. Outlines each step of the training protocol in great detail, including different types of instructions, using in-person and video modeling, how to monitor performance during rehearsal, and some strategies for delivering effective feedback. Explains how to do BST with individuals as well as groups and pyramidal structures to increase efficiency and reduce costs of training supervisees. Explores how technology can be used in the training process, as well as what skills can potentially be taught using BST.

Delivering Performance Feedback – Kelly Therrien

Teaches how to make the science of feedback work for students Provides BACB supervisors with the tools to provide effective performance feedback to trainees, supervisees and other staff members in their organizations. Emphasizes strategies for delivering performance feedback, as well as strategies for soliciting and reinforcing feedback from others as a supervisor, leaving participants with a concrete feedback plan using the science of organizational behavior management (OBM).

Evaluating the Effects of Supervision – Thomas Freeman

Provides a crucial, yet often neglected aspect of the process of supervising upcoming behavior analysts—evaluation: evaluating whether supervisory practices are effective and analyzing why supervisees may not be performing as expected. Includes a worksheet that will guide students through the BACB’s recommendations on evaluating the effects of supervision practices, including looking at client outcomes, supervisee behavior and supervision fidelity measures. Also delves deeply into performance monitoring of supervisees and how to reduce reactivity and increase acceptability of being monitored.

Ongoing Professional Development – Shauna Costello

Provides instruction related to the requirements from the BACB supervisor curriculum related to ongoing professional development. Emphasizes the responsibility to stay current with ABA best practices and research, learn from others and work with others to remain competent throughout one’s career, including supervisors’ accountability for the ongoing professional development of their supervisees. Encourages supervisors to aim to create a continuous learning community to enhance their supervisees’ skills.