The main goal of the project ABA-VR is to develop a comprehensive educational kit enhanced by an innovative VR tool. We hope that through this educational kit we will equip academics, higher education students, and graduates in fields related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and special education needs with the crucial skills on how to use ABA-based (Applied Behaviour Analysis) strategies. This educational kit will be enhanced by an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) tool, which will be a revolutionary approach to traditional teaching approaches.
The key objectives of the ABA-VR project are to, firstly, investigate the current quality of ABA trainings, and based on these results, implement an innovative training model for teachers/trainers to help them introduce ASD graduates into ABA. Secondly, it is to carry out local trainings for ASD graduates to help them professionally progress with the help of ABA. And lastly, it is to promote the benefits of the scientific discipline of ABA.
Therefore the first significant part of the project was to conduct a field research analysis to map the quality and standards of current ABA trainings. To that end, a survey was created and distributed in the partner countries among trainers and teachers that interact with students with ASD or special education needs.
After evaluating the survey results, development of the educational kit could begin. The education material will be based on basic ABA principles and is especially focused on training trainers and teachers in the usage of VR to enhance the delivery of ABA-based strategies in their trainings. The material will be supplemented with digital education materials, such as online tutorials and a VR game. The team is currently working on the primary drafts of the educational kit curriculum.
An important part of the project is also communicating and propagating its results and benefits to the public. This is why an ABA awareness campaign has been launched. The aim of the campaign is to inform the target audience and the public of what ABA is, share the benefits of its usage, and to combat the misinformation surrounding ABA by creating a positive image of the discipline. Another major part is the launch of the project website, which will contain the basic information concerning the project and partners, and eventually the work packages and results of the project.
For more information about the ABA-VR project, please visit www.abavr.eu
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