This study compared the effects of two different instructional strategies. The first is a
systematic, classroom-based, teacher-directed instructional strategy called discrete trial
training (DTT). The second is a more naturalistic instructional strategy performed
outside of the classroom called embedded instruction. The study was conducted to
determine which strategy would best help middle-school-age children with intellectual
disabilities maintain acquired math skills over time. The math skill for the students
involved was counting quarters and nickels (in like groups), up to $1.50. Either DTT or
embedded instruction was provided to the students until they could count quarters and
nickels with 100% accuracy across three consecutive trials