VL4ASD: Virtual Learning for People With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

The Solution:

We were asked to produce a virtual world in which conversational skills training could take place targeted at young neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with ASD.
We were able to provide the training in four forms via a 3D world: slideshows, videos, questionnaires and chatbot characters / AI narrator characters.

Who we helped:

Dr. Yurgos Politis
Michigan State University (MSU), Department of Counselling, Educational Psychology and Special Education

Project objective:

HIVE-RD was asked to deliver a virtual world with a conservational intervention system for young autistic adults in a virtual world.

Benefits Delivered:

1. We were able to provide an innovative approach to an educational program of conversational skills training, by adapting our RD_Construct virtual world with new and tailored subsystems related to social skills.
2. The platform allowed for two methods of teaching:
   • Firstly, the more traditional delivery of training where each trainee and teacher could login to access the virtual world using an avatar (a 3D character).
   • Secondly, if the trainee wanted to learn alone, they could access the same virtual environment and use the AI-driven chatbots to improve their conversational skill sets.
3. User-friendly methods were provided to the trainee, allowing them to decide when and how they wanted to learn.

Outcomes:
Research paper:
‘Involving People with Autism in Development of Virtual World for Provision of Skills Training’
International Journal of E-Learning and Distance Education, (Politis, Olivia, Olivia, & Sung, 2017)
https://www.ijede.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/1032