Games-based learning has offered new advances for students with exceptionalities, such as specific learning disorders or pervasive needs, to thrive not only in their educational environment but also in their everyday lives. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) provide students with opportunities to be successful and generalize their skills.
Explore the content below and participate in the activities to learn more!
Explore the content below and participate in the activities to learn more!
Activity One:
How do you think games-based learning, specifically augmented reality or virtual reality, can help your students with exceptionalities? Respond using the Padlet below. Be sure to include your name on your post.
How do you think games-based learning, specifically augmented reality or virtual reality, can help your students with exceptionalities? Respond using the Padlet below. Be sure to include your name on your post.
Virtual worlds can provide students with any accommodations they may need and can meet the instructional needs of a particular student. “Virtual worlds may be constructed to include cues, prompts, reinforcers, and feedback delivered through visual, auditory, or even haptic modalities” (Powers & Darrow, 1994). |
Students that require social skills instruction, for example many students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, can use AR or VR to practice using their social skills without overwhelming sensory overload. Students can enter a social situation, apply their skill, and have a real time, life-like response. If you would like to learn more about this, click HERE |
People with physical disabilities can use robotics and virtual or augmented reality to perform tasks they may not otherwise be able to perform (Powers & Darrow, 1994). This is a wonderful advancement for students that require functional curriculums. Whether it be picking up a fork (fine motor skills), or crossing the street (gross motor skills), students can be provided with the environment that would be most beneficial for them. The environment can also be altered with allows for generalization to occur. With AR or VR, a student can learn how to perform a task with their disability, or provide them with an environment to improve their mobility to offset their disability. (McComas, Pivik, Jayne & Laflamme, 1998).
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Watch the videos below to learn about how two different technologies are providing students with special needs the opportunities to overcome their disabilities.
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Inclusive ClassVR
Inclusive ClassVR offers students with various special needs the opportunity to immerse themselves in situations they may not otherwise be able to be apart of. This technology caters to those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments. Explore further by clicking the link below. |
Alive Studios Zoo
Alive Studios Zoo offers an engaging way to learn reading and math. While this Augmented reality experience is meant for all students, it can be very intriguing to students with exceptionalities as it improves motivation to learn as well as decreases classroom management issues. Explore Further by clicking the link below. |
Activity Two
Now that you've explored how these technologies can be beneficial for students in special education, lets look at the other side of this.
What problems could you foresee using augmented reality or virtual reality in special education? Respond using the Padlet below. Be sure to include your name on your post.
Now that you've explored how these technologies can be beneficial for students in special education, lets look at the other side of this.
What problems could you foresee using augmented reality or virtual reality in special education? Respond using the Padlet below. Be sure to include your name on your post.