The Tutoring Role of Mentors Working with Adults and Elderly People with Learning Disabilities Using Virtual Environments

Abstract

This article outlines the potential of virtual training environments in the rehabilitation of adults and elderly people with learning disabilities. Before such virtual training environments are developed, tutoring roles for mentors working with adults and elderly people must be investigated. This is because this group of people has far less expectation of and experience with computers than younger people with learning disabilities, for whom virtual training environments have already proved effective. Effective tutoring strategies employed, together with appropriate and well-designed virtual training environments, will be the outcomes of two methods suggested in this article.

Emerging Technologies and Cognitive Disability

“…The use of virtual reality for educating persons with cognitive disabilities can overcome barriers of real-world training situations such as cost, safety and accessibility (Cromby et al, 1996). Researchers have utilized virtual technologies to provide instruction in community-based activities such as shopping, social interactions, and safety (Brown & Standen, 1999;Langone, Clees, Rieber, & Matzko, 2003). Use of virtual technologies in the classroom can be extremely motivating to students, can make abstract learning concepts more concrete, allow students to progress through an experience at their own pace, and encourage active participation rather than passive observation (Pantelidis, 1995).…”

“…Furthermore, skills learned in virtual environments have been shown to successfully transfer to real world situations (Standen, Brown, & Cromby, 2001;Standen, Cromby, & Brown, 1997). Virtual environments have also been used to mentor adults with cognitive disabilities and the elderly (Brown & Standen, 1999).…”