This book presents selected research and development on virtual reality (VR) and serious games (SG) applications to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in their learning of different skills. Children with ASD have challenges to learn skills of learning, living, and working, due to their cognitive and behavioral limitations. The authors and their research teams of this book have many years’ research experience developing innovative and interactive VR and SG technology for the special needs education. More specifically, several VR serious games are designed to train children with ASD on learning skill, life skill, and job skill. Such games are often developed based on the needs of special education and used by special needs schools in Singapore. This book is a useful resource for students, scholars, and designers of learning material who want to embrace VR and SG for children with ASD.

This book introduces state-of-the-art research on simulation and serious games for education. Based partially on work presented at the 3rd Asia-Europe Symposium on Simulation and Serious Games (3rd AESSSG) held in Zhuhai, China as part of the 2016 ACM SIGGRAPH International Conference on Virtual-Reality Consortium and Applications in Industry (VRACI 2016), it includes a selection of the best papers from both. The book is divided into three major domains of education applications that use simulation and serious games: science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education; special needs education; and humanity and social science education. A valuable resource for researchers and developers in simulation and serious games for education benefit from this book, it also offers educators and professionals involved in training insights into the possible applications of simulation and serious games in various areas.

This book examines opportunities and obstacles in achieving the digital inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It addresses basic requirements of the digital society and the concepts of digital inclusion (and exclusion), digital participation, and the disability digital divide as well as support for individuals with autism in co-creating digital devices. The book discusses the application of digital technologies across different contexts, including education, leisure activities, community life, daily living skills, and employment of individuals with autism. Featured areas of coverage include: Computer-based interventions for speech development, social communication, executive functions, and other skills in children with autism. Digital health intervention for persons with ASD. Risks for persons with ASD on the Internet (e.g., excessive use, addictive behavior, and cyberbullying). Digital technology use in simulating job interviews, and teaching work skills. Digital technology use in self-advocacy activities of individuals with autism. Digital Inclusion of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder is an essential reference for researchers, professors, graduate students, clinicians and related therapists and professionals in clinical child and school psychology, social work, behavioral therapy/rehabilitation, pediatrics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, neurology, special education, child and adolescent psychiatry, and developmental psychology.

This book consists of chapters that present the state-of-the-art research on mixed reality, simulation and serious games with applications in four main educational topics: (1) K-12 STEAM Education; (2) Tertiary/Professional Education; (3) Special Needs Education; and (4) Cultural, Social & Museum Education. The chapters of the book present a multi-facet view on different approaches to deal with challenges that surround the uptake of educational applications of mixed reality, simulations and serious games in various practices. The different approaches highlight challenges and potential solutions and provide future directions for mixed reality, simulation and serious games research, for the design of learning material and for implementation. By doing so, the book is a useful resource for both students and scholars interested in research in this field, for designers of learning material and for practitioners that want to embrace mixed reality, simulation and/or serious games in their education. Chapter "Development of AR Interactive Components for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Digital technologies play a significant role in the popular imagination about the future of education, as they are a prominent aspect of modern education provision and practice across the globe. Due to the increased adoption of digital education materials during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pedagogical significance of digital technology has been amplified. Advancing Equity and Inclusion Through Educational Technology builds upon the available literature in equity and inclusion through educational technology while providing further research opportunities in this dynamic and growing field. It provides the opportunity for reflection on this crucial issue by increasing the understanding of the importance of inclusion and equity in the context of educational improvements and providing relevant academic work, empirical research findings, and an overview of this relevant field of study. Covering topics such as sustainable inclusion learning, virtual school press programs, and generic skills, this major reference work is a comprehensive and timely resource for educators and administrators of both K-12 and higher education, government officials, pre-service teachers, teacher educators, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

This book introduces state-of-the-art research on virtual reality, simulation and serious games for education and its chapters presented the best papers from the 4th Asia-Europe Symposium on Simulation and Serious Games (4th AESSSG) held in Turku, Finland, December 2018. The chapters of the book present a multi-facet view on different approaches to deal with challenges that surround the uptake of educational applications of virtual reality, simulations and serious games in school practices. The different approaches highlight challenges and potential solutions and provide future directions for virtual reality, simulation and serious games research, for the design of learning material and for implementation in classrooms. By doing so, the book is a useful resource for both students and scholars interested in research in this field, for designers of learning material, and for practitioners that want to embrace virtual reality, simulation and/or serious games in their education.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an extreme case of a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) event that grants the opportunity to examine whether special and inclusive education is fully prepared for these complex situations.