Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education的动态

October is #NationalManufacturingMonth, and it’s also #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth! Today, we are announcing a project that will have huge impact on both. Bismarck State College has been awarded $9.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s Disability Innovation Fund to launch the XR for VR project, a pioneering collaboration aimed at improving employment outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. This project is a collaboration across several partners, including CareerViewXR, Impact Dakota, ND Assistive, LAB Midwest, CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology), and Immersive Reality USA. Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/g_vmBBsn #NDEAM #Accessibility #NorthDakota #DisabilityInnovationFund #XR #VR #EmploymentOutcomes #Workforce #Labor #Education #VirtualReality #CareerAwareness #CareerExploration #AdaptiveTechnology

???? “The group using #VR significantly outperformed the tablet group” New findings from the University of South Australia and UNSW provide further evidence of the power of #VirtualReality over traditional digital media - in this particular example, for for those with cognitive disabilities. By providing immersive, controlled environments, VR enhances learning and skill acquisition, offering a safe space to practice real-world scenarios. This approach not only empowers individuals but also opens new avenues for education and training tailored to their unique needs. The findings of the study suggest VR could play a crucial role in fostering independence and improving the quality of life for those with cognitive disabilities. #XR #SpatialComputing #Education #neurodiversity #disability #SpecialNeeds

Reintegrating into society can be challenging for inmates, especially those with poor social skills. Virtual Reality (VR) training is emerging as a game-changer, helping inmates develop essential life and social skills before their release. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (Penn DOC) is leveraging WRAP Technologies’ WRAP Reality VR platform to provide immersive, 360-degree training scenarios that simulate real-life situations. This innovative approach allows inmates to interact with 2D/3D characters in emotionally charged scenarios, helping them practice conflict resolution, decision-making, and positive family interactions. Inmates can experience both positive and negative outcomes based on their decisions, and trainers provide guidance to improve responses. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gq9XFJiT #VRTraining #Rehabilitation #InmateReentry #FamilyBonding #TechForGood #CorrectionsInnovation #VirtualVisitation #PennDOC #WRAPTechnologies #SocialSkillsDevelopment

It’s brilliant to see how ClassVR is supporting Chrysalis Cumbria in transforming the lives of people with learning disabilities. Thanks to a grant by Fibrus Broadband, they’re able to use ClassVR to immerse individuals in a range of experiences, from exploring different countries and cultures, to visits to art galleries, theatres, and castles. This is a great example of how VR can transform lives, providing access to experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eNimVAzd #VR #ImmersiveLearning #ClassVR #SEND

Do you advocate for a therapeutic approach when working with vulnerable children and young people? ?? Many of our partners promote PACE and therapeutic practice across their service, yet some carers and professionals struggle to effectively model these techniques. In Cornerstone’s recent webinar, we showcased 2D versions of our immersive experiences to highlight the differences between a therapeutic approach and other methods when working with vulnerable children. Our attendees found that experiencing these scenarios from the child's perspective offers exceptional insight into effective implementation and the significant impact it can have. One attendee shared: "Demonstrating PACE and therapeutic responses is invaluable because it’s often challenging to show some carers how to apply them.” Another commented: “Many new foster carers believe that traditional parenting methods will suffice. This [Cornerstone VR] clearly illustrates the necessity for alternative parenting styles and their importance.” The Cornerstone VR programme includes several immersive scenarios, in both home and educational settings, allowing users to see these different styles from the viewpoint of the child. Interested in how this approach can help support your organisation? Find out more: https://buff.ly/3RcK9xy Get in touch: ?? [email protected] | ?? 0808 1756 414

HELP A VR RESEARCHER: Call for Participants: Promoting Inclusive Avatar Representations for Everyone ?? ? A group of accessibility researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison and Virginia Tech are conducting research to support inclusive avatar representation for people with disabilities in social VR and looking for people with disabilities to participate in the study. Participants will have a 45-min phone survey with us and reflect on their avatar preferences on social VR platforms. Compensation of $25 for all participants who completed the study. This study is fully remote. They are looking for participants who must: 1) Be at least 18 years old; 2) Have at least one disability, including but not limited to visual impairments, deaf and hard of hearing, mobility disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, etc; 3) Have experience with avatars in digital social platforms. If you are someone with disabilities and you are interested in participating in this study, please fill out this interest form. https://lnkd.in/gmyMgy6Y #helpavrresearcher #vrresearch

Read about harnessing VR for learning differences in this latest edition of Owning It.

One company has made a VR simulation and it is “a serious game. This game “supports people who are anxious or need Passenger Assistance to build confidence to access travel by train. This is a first-of-a-kind use of serious games technology to simulate using a service and building confidence to access it.” — #AutisticCulture ?? #Autistic?#Autism?#Autist?#AuDHD?#AdultAutism?#AdultAutistic?#AutismAwareness?#AutismAcceptance #Neurodiversity?#Neurodivergent #Neurodivergence #ActuallyAutistic #AutisticActually #Masking

#Virtualreality #grooming is an #increasing #danger: How can #parents #keep #children #safe? #Health #Pediatrics -------- https://lnkd.in/gg5b2Fjr -------- #Virtualreality (#VR) #headsets are increasingly popular among adults and children. They are part of extended reality environments, which "enable ever more realistic and immersive experiences." VR provides entry into computer-generated 3D worlds and games with different environments and interactions. Sometimes this is loosely referred to as the "#metaverse." The majority of VR headsets have a lower age limit of 10–13 years due to safety concerns of extended reality technologies in general and VR headsets in particular. But VR is increasingly used by young children, even of preschool age. These immersive technologies make it difficult to monitor children's physical and emotional experiences and with whom they interact. So what are the dangers, and what can we do to keep the kids safe? The #good and the #bad VR allows children to dive into a digital world where they can immerse themselves into different characters (avatars). Thanks to the richness of the stimuli, VR can give the illusion of actually being in the virtual location—this is called "#virtualpresence". If children then interact with other people in the virtual world, the psychological realism is enhanced. These experiences can be fun and rewarding. However, they can also have negative impacts. Children tend to have difficulty distinguishing between what occurs within VR and in the real world. As children identify with their avatars, the boundary between them and the VR device is blurred when playing in the metaverse. Children can even develop traumatic memories when playing in virtual worlds. Due to the immersive nature of VR, the sense of presence makes it feel as if the child's avatar is actually "real." Research is still emerging, but it is known children can form memories from virtual experiences, which means sexual abuse that occurs virtually could turn into a real-world traumatic memory. The #rise of '#cybergrooming' Research has found that online predators use different grooming strategies to manipulate children into sexual interactions. This sometimes leads to offline encounters without the knowledge of parents. Non-threatening grooming strategies that build relationships are common. Perpetrators may use friendship strategies to develop a relationship with children and to build trust. The child then views the person as a trusted friend rather than a stranger. As a result, the prevention messages about strangers learned through education programs are ineffective in protecting children. A recent meta-analysis found that online sex offenders are usually acquaintances. Unsurprisingly, a proportion of adult predators pretend to be peers (that is, other children or teens).