Information Technology Support of Education of Students With Autism: Aspects of Virtual Assistant Modeling

Abstract

People with autism find that interacting with a computer or tablet is less stressful and more attractive than interacting with people. The analysis of information technologies developed both abroad and in Ukraine reveals the lack of systematic support for the education processes of people with autism. In this context, the development of personalized information technology support for the learning processes of such students is an urgent scientific and practical task. To achieve this goal it is necessary to explore the theoretical and methodological foundations of teaching people with autism and state the role of IT support of such education. Experts agree that the main areas of development of information technology to support the training of students with autism are the improvement of communication skills, improvement of social communication, and academic training. The method of personalization of virtual content of information technologies developed or adjusted to support education of students with autism should take into account the results psychological diagnostics of a student, his/her educational abilities and needs, and also such method might involve the participation of paraprofessionals and parents of a student. When developing such a method, it should be taken into account that some students might use non-verbal communication only, and an algorithm for evaluating the emotions of a student with autism should be developed. The most promising technologies which can be with an appropriate level of ease be adapted into the education of students with autism are augmented and virtual reality technologies. According to the developed method of personalization of virtual content of information technologies, different modeling and visualization software should be used.