The Edit Strategy

THE EDIT STRATEGY (recommended for GRADES 2+)

The EDIT Strategy enables students to find and correct errors on assignments created with a word processor. Students learn to enter their first draft into a word processing program, perform a spell check, run through the COPS Questions (which are related to capitalization, overall appearance, punctuation, and substance of the paper), and make the needed corrections.

In a randomized control study with 22 upper elementary and middle school students with learning disabilities, upon mastering the strategy, students were able to detect and correct 80 percent of the errors in a passage, compared to 28 percent of the errors before they learned the strategy. Students who did not learn the strategy had five times more errors in their written work than students who learned the strategy.

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Please note that professional development, coaching, and infrastructure support are essential components to effective implementation of SIM instructional tools and interventions. It is highly recommended that you work with a SIM professional developer. See the SIM Event list for sessions or email simpd@ku.edu to learn more.

Author(s): Charles A. Hughes, Jean B. Schumaker, David B. McNaughton, Donald D. Deshler, and Susan M. Nolan

Publication Info: University of Kansas, 2010

Resources:

• The Edit Strategy Research (.pdf)

RESEARCH ARTICLES

• Woods-Groves S., Hughes C. A., Rodgers D. B., Balint-Langel K., Alqahtani S. S., Neil K. M., Hinzman M. (2020). Efficacy of a computer-based editing strategy with postsecondary students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities. 55(2), 142–157.
• Hughes, C.A., Dexter, D.D., Kubo, M., & Dexter, C. (2017) The effectiveness of an editing strategy for upper elementary students with learning disabilities. Manuscript in Preparation.
• Woods-Groves, S., Hua, Y., Ford, J. W., & Neil, K. M. (2017). Efficacy of an electronic editing strategy with college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 2017, 52(4), 422– 436.
• Woods-Groves, S, Hua, Y, Therrien, W.J., Kaldenberg, E.R, Kihura, R.W., & Hendrickson, J.M. (2015). An Investigation of the Efficacy of an Editing Strategy with Post-secondary Students with Developmental Disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 50(1), 95-108.
• Schumaker, J.B., & Deshler, D.D. (2009). Adolescents with learning disabilities: Are we selling them short? Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 24(2), 81-92. - The authors review the evolution of SIM writing strategies and research that shows students with learning disabilities can learn and successfully use writing strategies under the right instructional conditions.

An accessible version of the documents on this site will be made available upon request. Please contact the KU CRL Professional Development Research Institute, at simpd@ku.edu to request the document be made available in an accessible format.