Experiential learning for children with autism spectrum disorder using virtual reality headsets: a preliminary report

Kolb's experiential learning model (ELM) is one of the most widely applied learning theories for virtual reality enabled learning because in the authentic and highly interactive virtual environment, learning activities could be designed to encourage learners to actively experiment and to allow learners to observe and reflect on instant feedback and results from the experiment. This paper aims to address two fundamental questions related to the applying of ELM for the design of social competence learning in the virtual reality environment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through an exploratory study involving three children with the clinical diagnosis of ASD but diverse abilities on the spectrum. Observations show that children with ASD generally need more time to adapt to the headsets and often need facilitation during learning; providing in-VR facilitation and support in the form of pre-programmed visual and voice instructions and feedback are critical to the success of their learning.