Interactive Skills Enhancer (ISE): A Virtual Reality-Based Learning Tool for Children with ASD and ID
ABSTARCT :
Project Concept: Enhanced Education System for specially abled Background: Interpersonal skills are learned and mastered by children when they interact with the world, but for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) this is where the challenges lie.
As traditional classroom settings cannot cater to their unique learning requirements, prompting a demand for innovative educational tools that enhance learning engagement and effectiveness. The Virtual Reality (VR) technology which is capable of simulating controlled and immersive environments. It supports safe, repeatable, personalized, interactive experiences with children with unique sensory and cognitive profiles.
Existing research demonstrates the potential that VR has for enhancing social functioning in ASD. supporting the benefits of computer-assisted technology on learning and the quality of life for children with special development needs.
Description: The Interactive Skills Enhancer (ISE)-a virtual reality software designed primarily for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) to catalyze their social skills interlaces with their personal growth. This piece of VR kit places the user into a range of virtual, socially realistic scenarios that can be customized, including classroom environments and playground social structures.
It includes not just advanced Al for emotion recognition, in-the-moment feedback to steer social behavior appropriately, and opportunity for skills reinforcement.
Featuring sensitivity & sensory needs specific attributes - ISE provides a fun, nurturing, & secure space that facilitates children to progressively develop, learn, and refine social cues and interactions in a personalized setting.
The monitoring dashboard for parents and educators, can help to follow the progress and individualize the learning experience provided through ISE, making the latter a complete package for boosting the social skills in children with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID).
Expected Outcome: The proposed solution titled Interactive Skills Enhancer (ISE) is a Virtual Reality (VR) based application intended for teaching social skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) ISE leverages interactive VR environments designed to enable children to participate in virtual social scenarios that are typical of everyone daily routine.
They are developed in order to foster the skills, both to learn and to reinforce such as recognizing emotion, acquiring, or beginning a social conversation, and to respond appropriately in social interaction.
ISE is customizable for individual sensitivities, and includes a dashboard for educators and parents to track progress using data and to offer a wide range of engaging, effective tools for children with ASD and ID, all designed to make the biggest impact on their interpersonal capabilities.
NOTE : This is an innovation opportunity and students are encouraged to think out of the box to develop solutions which can be presented in newer ways + which can address the needs in out of the box ways for a certain industry OR makes the platform generic.
Above description serves as a guide to specify essential needs that can be satisfied for the developed solution and is not limited only to the scope described.
EXISTING SYSTEM :
In addition to VR application in clinical intervention, many pedagogical theories also support its use as an educational tool in school activities. Classic pedagogical theories including constructivist learning, situated learning, and engagement theory all endorse the idea of VR integration into education [16-18].
The constructivist philosophy considers knowledge to be constructed through learners’ interaction with the environment. Situated learning holds that learning is realized through continuous participation in the authentic activities in the community of practice.
Similarly, the fundamental idea underlying engagement theory highlights the necessity of learners being meaningfully engaged in learning activities via interpersonal interaction and task completion. In these theories, VR integration is envisioned as the platform that enables full participation and facilitates all aspects of interaction and engagement.
Furthermore, newly-advanced theories of pedagogy such as experiential learning and affective learning provide even greater support for the investigation of how VR technologies can be harnessed in education and learning.
DISADVANTAGE :
1. Target Skills:
Social Skills: Turn-taking, sharing, initiating conversations, understanding social cues.
Communication Skills: Expressing needs and feelings, following instructions, understanding verbal and non-verbal communication.
Daily Living Skills: Basic hygiene, cooking, shopping, and personal safety.
2. User Interface Design:
Child-Friendly: Bright colors, simple icons, and intuitive navigation.
Customization: Ability to personalize avatars and environments to enhance engagement and comfort.
Feedback Mechanism: Real-time feedback through visual and auditory cues to reinforce learning.
3. Virtual Environments:
Home Settings: Simulations of daily routines (e.g., brushing teeth, making a snack).
Community Settings: Scenarios like visiting a store, attending a party, or using public transportation.
4. Learning Methodologies
Gamification:
Incorporate game-like elements such as points, levels, and rewards to motivate engagement and completion of tasks.
Role-Playing:
Enable children to practice social interactions through role-playing scenarios with virtual characters, allowing for mistakes in a safe environment.
PROPOSED SYSTEM :
The Interactive Skills Enhancer (ISE) is a proposed virtual reality-based learning tool specifically designed to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in developing essential social, communication, and daily living skills.
By leveraging the immersive and interactive capabilities of virtual reality, the ISE creates engaging learning environments that allow children to practice real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled setting. The system comprises several targeted modules, each focusing on critical areas of development, including social skills, communication skills, emotional regulation, and daily living tasks.
Through gamified experiences, role-playing exercises, and realistic simulations, children can enhance their understanding of social cues, improve their ability to express themselves, and learn vital life skills necessary for greater independence.
Additionally, the ISE offers a comprehensive progress tracking system that enables parents and educators to monitor individual growth and tailor support strategies accordingly. By integrating innovative technology with proven educational methodologies, the Interactive Skills Enhancer aims to empower children with ASD and ID, fostering their confidence and competence in navigating everyday challenges.
ADVANTAGE :
Engagement: The VR environment provides an engaging, interactive experience that can capture the attention of children with ASD and ID, making learning more appealing compared to traditional methods.
Customizable Content: The tool can be tailored to meet the individual needs and preferences of each child, accommodating various skill levels and learning styles.
Low-Stress Practice: Children can practice social and daily living skills in a controlled environment where they can make mistakes without real-world consequences, reducing anxiety associated with social interactions.
Social Interaction Simulation: The ISE can simulate various social scenarios, allowing children to practice turn-taking, sharing, and recognizing social cues in a safe setting.
Verbal and Non-Verbal Practice: The tool can teach children how to express themselves verbally and recognize non-verbal cues, fostering better communication skills essential for daily interactions.
|