Teaching Social Skills to Children with Autism Using Minecraft®


Book Description

This comprehensive and accessible guide contains everything that needs to be known in order to set up and run a Minecraft® Social Group for children with autism spectrum disorders. Minecraft®, often described as 'digital Lego', provides an ideal forum to help children with autism and related conditions to develop social and communication skills. This book offers guidance on how to use the game to support the learning of social and emotional concepts such as having a conversation, showing interest in others and understanding another person's point of view. With over 150 pages of photocopiable and downloadable session plans, visuals and handouts, this manual is essential reading for professionals working with autism who are interested in introducing Minecraft® to support social skill development in their students.




Handbook of Research on Teaching With Virtual Environments and AI


Book Description

The increasingly pervasive use of digital technology has catapulted society into an interconnected world where the natural boundaries between humankind and machine, virtual and real, individual and community have become less perceptible. As individuals interact with different digital technologies, they must build a digital intelligence, which must be further cultivated as it is a key competency for the future of school and work. Digital intelligence includes understanding the mutual strengths between people and technology, as well as developing an awareness in the use of digital tools in order to avoid common threats such as cyberbullying, addiction to video games, techno-stress, and more. As adolescents continue to engage with virtual reality and 3D virtual worlds where the online and offline overlap and coincide, it is important to build this intelligence as well as utilize these technologies to promote successful learning. The Handbook of Research on Teaching With Virtual Environments and AI explores the new personalized educational opportunities that are available with digital technology and virtual environments that can be used within education. This book focuses on the use of these tools and how to navigate the use of new technologies such as AI and virtual environments for educational practices. While highlighting topics such as virtual worlds, game-based learning, intelligent tutoring, augmented reality, and more, this book is ideal for teachers, administrators, technologists, educational software developers, IT specialists, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how virtual environments and AI are being implemented in teaching practices.




Commonsense Methods for Children with Special Needs and Disabilities


Book Description

This fully revised and updated eighth edition of Peter Westwood’s book offers practical advice and strategies for meeting the challenge of inclusive teaching. Based on the latest international research from the field, it offers practical advice on both new and well-tried evidence-based approaches and strategies for teaching students with a wide range of difficulties. As well as covering special educational needs, learning difficulties, and disabilities in detail, chapters also explore topics such as self-management and autonomy, managing behaviour, and social skills. The book offers sound pedagogical practices and strategies for adapting curriculum content, designing teaching materials, differentiating instruction for mixed-ability classes, and implementing inclusive assessment of learning. Key features of this new edition include: Additional information on linking all aspects of teaching to a Response-to-Intervention Model A focus on the increasing importance of digital technology in supporting the learning of students with special educational needs and disabilities Up-to-date resource lists for each chapter, for those who wish to pursue a particular topic in greater depth Reflecting cutting-edge international research and teaching practices, this is an invaluable resource for practising and trainee teachers, teaching assistants, and other educational professionals looking to support students with special educational needs and disabilities.




Autism and Inclusive Education


Book Description

This handbook provides educators and school practitioners with a practical resource to successfully support speaking and non-speaking autistic students in K–12 school settings. Each chapter discusses an approach founded on current research on the self-reported school priorities of autistic students, which historically have been overlooked in research and education. Incorporating the views and experiences of autistic students promotes the use of human-rights-centered pedagogies and ensures that evidence-based practices are both ethical and effective in supporting the learning and well-being success of autistic students. The informative content challenges assumptions of normative ability and highlights opportunities where evidence-based practices to support autistic students can be used alongside inclusive best practices to improve the educational experiences of all students. This handbook's flexible and easy-to-use design can be used in its entirety or as a reference tool for school practitioners, teachers, and parents.




Inclusive Phygital Learning Approaches and Strategies for Students With Special Needs


Book Description

For “A School for All” to be a reality, changes need to be made to the education system regarding culture, policies, and practices within schools. Inclusive education requires more than just a standard educational provision. Teaching and education have been extensively researched during the COVID-19 pandemic, and yet there is little research that has addressed the practices that can improve phygital teaching effectiveness in inclusive environments. Following the move to online teaching programs in the pandemic, children with special needs faced even greater challenges, including digital exclusion and the threat of being left behind, as well as the inability of teachers to teach them appropriately due to an absence of appropriate assistive equipment, internet access, accessible materials, and poor preparation. Inclusive Phygital Learning Approaches and Strategies for Students With Special Needs provides current, relevant information concerning inclusive classroom teaching approaches during COVID-19, which are still implemented post COVID-19. Covering topics such as inclusive classroom teaching, phygital teaching, and the digital divide, this book is essential for pre-service and in-service teachers, inclusive educational leaders, academics, curriculum development specialists, and those who are interested in inclusive phygital practices for students in special education.




Group Activities for Social Emotional Learning using Sketch Comedy and Improv Games


Book Description

Children with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. But the benefits that can be derived from these skills can only be seen if children are given the opportunity to develop them. This accessible guide helps teach children to participate in social-emotional learning. Offering fun group activities including social skill-based improv games, participant written plays, and basic plays that can be transformed using the creative minds of children themselves. To increase participant comfort levels with these activities, the book allows for a graduated exposure of techniques, starting with improv trust building and joint focus games, and progressing to improvisation and writing sketches. Featuring additional downloadable content, including worksheets and lesson plans for classroom use, this is the perfect companion for educators and therapists.




Artificial Intelligence in Education


Book Description

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, AIED 2023, held in Tokyo, Japan, during July 3-7, 2023. This event took place in hybrid mode. The 53 full papers and 26 short papers presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 311 submissions. The papers present result in high-quality research on intelligent systems and the cognitive sciences for the improvement and advancement of education. The conference was hosted by the prestigious International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society, a global association of researchers and academics specializing in the many fields that comprise AIED, including, but not limited to, computer science, learning sciences, and education.




LEGO®-Based Therapy


Book Description

This complete guide to LEGO® Therapy contains everything you need to know in order to set up and run a LEGO® Club for children with autism spectrum disorders or related social communication difficulties and anxiety conditions. By providing a joint interest and goal, LEGO® building can become a medium for social development such as sharing, turn-taking, making eye-contact, and following social rules. This book outlines the theory and research base of the approach and gives advice on all practical considerations including space, the physical layout of the room and choosing and maintaining materials, as well as strategies for managing behaviour, further skill development, and how to assess progress. Written by the pioneer of the approach alongside those who helped form it through their research and evaluation, this evidence-based manual is essential reading for professionals working with autism who are interested in running a LEGO® Club or learning more about the therapy.




Educational Psychology Perspectives on Supporting Young Autistic People


Book Description

An essential guide for any professionals working with autistic children and young adults, this book provides expert insights which need to be considered by professionals, parents and autistic people alike. It covers key themes such as anxiety and wellbeing, transition into adulthood, sexuality, intersectionality, and many more. A unique blend of first-hand experience, parental guidance and professional advice is provided from prominent figures in the autism field to offer you an overview of the important issues of today, to help you understand and better support autistic young people.




21st Century Skills


Book Description

This important resource introduces a framework for 21st Century learning that maps out the skills needed to survive and thrive in a complex and connected world. 21st Century content includes the basic core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic-but also emphasizes global awareness, financial/economic literacy, and health issues. The skills fall into three categories: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills. This book is filled with vignettes, international examples, and classroom samples that help illustrate the framework and provide an exciting view of twenty-first century teaching and learning. Explores the three main categories of 21st Century Skills: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills Addresses timely issues such as the rapid advance of technology and increased economic competition Based on a framework developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) The book contains a video with clips of classroom teaching. For more information on the book visit www.21stcenturyskillsbook.com.