The goal of this project was to develop a virtual reality (VR) application which allows secondary and tertiary vocational education students with ASD to practice their social communication skills within the context of group work. Earlier research has shown that participating in group conversations can be challenging for students with ASD. By participating in simulated group conversations within the VR application, students with ASD can develop important skills they need to communicate effectively and appropriately during study-related group conversations with fellow students. Because group projects are becoming increasingly prominent in vocational education, we expect that the opportunity to practice study-related group conversations in a virtual training environment will enhance the likelihood of study success for this potentially vulnerable target group. As such, the VR application developed within this project is likely to contribute to a more inclusive study environment within secondary and tertiary vocational education.
Given the increasing prevalence of group work in secondary and tertiary vocational education, the ability to participate effectively in group conversations with fellow students about assignments and projects is an important prerequisite for study and professional success. For students with level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, participating in group conversations is often challenging. Many of them experience difficulties with skills like switching between different topics, interpreting verbal and non-verbal signals from other participants, and ignoring potentially distracting stimuli in the external environment. As a result, students with ASD often experience stress and nervousness before and during their participation in such a conversation. Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide students with ASD with the opportunity to practice study-related group conversations in a safe environment that is tailored towards their specific learning needs.