Autism education programs for children collect and use large amounts of behavioral data on each student. PhD Student Gabi Marcu has been investigating this for several years. Staff use paper almost exclusively to collect these data, despite significant problems they face in tracking student data in situ, filling out data sheets and graphs on a daily basis, and using the sheets in collaborative decision making.

Gabi and her team conducted fieldwork to understand data collection and use in the domain of autism education to explain why current technology had not met staff needs. They found that data needs are complex and unstandardized, immediate demands of the job interfere with staff ability to collect in situ data, and existing technology for data collection is inadequate. They also identified opportunities for technology to improve sharing and use of data.