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Using Serious Games for Promoting Blended Learning for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism: Literature vs Reality

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Interactive Mobile Communication Technologies and Learning (IMCL 2017)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 725))

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Abstract

Educating people with intellectual disabilities (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a non-trivial process and differs from the learning methods of typically developed people. Recently, serious games (SGs) have been used to enhance the learning process of these groups and address different skills. On the other hand, blended learning (BL) is applied to formal and informal educational contexts and combines face-to-face and online learning. In this study, we examine if SGs can provide the necessary means for applying BL, especially for people with ID or ASD that could be benefited by personalized learning opportunities. In addition, we examine 43 existing SGs for people with ID or ASD, as well as the perceptions of 93 special education professionals (SEP) and teachers (SET) working in schools and institutions for people with ID or ASD regarding the role of technology and SGs in their education. We concluded that SGs could enhance the learning process of people with ID or ASD in many skills. In addition, the opinions of SEP and SET regarding the importance of technology in the learning process of people with ID or ASD and the familiarity with SGs, indicate that BL could be effectively promoted through SGs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Stavros Tsikinas, Stelios Xinogalos, Maya Satratzemi & Lefkothea Kartasidou

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  1. Stavros Tsikinas
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  2. Stelios Xinogalos
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  3. Maya Satratzemi
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Correspondence to Stavros Tsikinas .

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  1. Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Villach, Austria

    Michael E. Auer

  2. Department of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos

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Tsikinas, S., Xinogalos, S., Satratzemi, M., Kartasidou, L. (2018). Using Serious Games for Promoting Blended Learning for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism: Literature vs Reality. In: Auer, M., Tsiatsos, T. (eds) Interactive Mobile Communication Technologies and Learning. IMCL 2017. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 725. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75175-7_55

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75175-7_55

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