It is well known that social interactions can be challenging for autistic children and teens. While research has shown that practicing these interactions as often as possible is key to long-term development and improvement, it can be difficult to repeat or practice in person as much as a child needs to feel confident.
The solution may be found in virtual reality applications being developed by researchers at the University of Kansas. The VOISS, or Virtual Reality Opportunities to Integrate Social Skills, walks users through a variety of potential social interactions. It can be presented on a tablet or laptop or used with a virtual reality headset.
After attending this webinar, participants will gain an understanding of:
How the VOISS Advisor content library can support educators, practitioners, and parents in extending social skills learning to real life
Sean J. Smith, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Dr. Smith’s research interests focus on innovations and technology solutions to support struggling learners and those with disabilities, particularly interventions aligned with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework. Dr. Smith is the co-creator and co-principal investigator on a federally funded project exploring the impact of virtual reality on struggling learners in the area of social-emotional development, VOISS.
Sean has authored over 100 books and articles, given hundreds of scholarly presentations both nationally and internationally, and serves on various boards for journals, organizations, and parent groups focused on enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Dr. Smith, with a variety of collaborators, has received and managed over $25 million of external research and development funds. Most importantly, Sean is the father of four children, one having Down syndrome. It is through this work as a father that Sean has sought to apply his knowledge of effective practices with parents, family members, and similar stakeholders as we look to enhance the lives of our children, ALL of our children!
Amber Rowland, PhD, is an Associate Research Professor and Associate Director of the Center for Research on Learning. She specializes in collaborative, practical, and engaging adult professional learning with an emphasis on current instructional practice and the powerful integration of technology. She is particularly interested in supporting professional learning at a distance and is constantly pursuing methods for tapping into the collective capacity of educators and students. She serves as a Co-Principal Investigator on the Office of Special Education and Policy (OSEP)-funded, Stepping Up grant, called VOISS, which is building a virtual reality environment to teach students social competency skills and the teacher progress monitoring and professional learning needed to implement and generalize learned skills to the physical classroom.
Dr. Rowland travels to local, state, and national venues and conferences, working with teachers on digital-age instruction and the general integration of technology to support all learners, especially those who struggle. In 2008, Amber was recognized as one of the 20 emerging leaders in education technology by the National School Boards Association's “20 to Watch” initiative, and in 2016, she was recognized as a Kansas University Woman of Distinction.