Using a 3D Simulation for Teaching Functional Skills to Students with Learning, Attentional, Behavioral, and Emotional Disabilities

Abstract

The study presents results from the use of a 3D simulation for teaching functional skills to students with learning, attentional, behavioral, and emotional disabilities, attending regular schools. An A-B single-subject study design was applied. The participating students (eight eight-to-nine years old) explored the simulation (a virtual school), encountered situations in which they observed how they are expected to behave, and had to demonstrate what they have learned. Each student attended a total of four two-hour sessions. Data were collected by means of observations and semi-structured interviews. All students demonstrated improved functional skills both in terms of the number of behaviors they acquired and in terms of those that were retained and manifested in the real school environment. On the basis of the results, it can be argued that 3D simulations are a promising tool for teaching functional skills to students with disabilities.