Stephanie Jones
Virtual Reality Lesson Planning Guide
Problem/Challenge
The focus of my VR project is working
with students who have ASD who need
assistance with empathy, emotions and
engaging in appropriate conversations. I
know this is a problem that needs to be
addressed because people with ASD
have difficulties understanding their
own emotions as well as understanding
facial expressions and being able to put
themselves in other peoples’ shoes.
Sometimes a person with ASD might
say something that can come across as
offensive to someone else. Using VR is
a better fit because no one is getting
offended or hurt. Some people when
offended get verbal or physical. This can
be very confusing and scary for students
with ASD. VR takes away those risks.
Target Audience
The instruction for this lesson will be
with 2 students with Autism and
sometimes 2 students who are
neurotypical.
Student 1 performs on a 1st or 2nd grade
level for all subjects. Very compliant
with directions. Social skills are a need.
He tends to bring up things that are
inappropriate and upset others. He will
continue to talk about things after
students have said they are bothered by
it. He doesn’t understand why they get
upset with him and then gets mad.
Student 2 performs on grade level for all
subjects. He has an additional adult
working with him all day. He will say
inappropriate comments that others
consider extremely rude if they do not
know him. He will tell people they are
lazy or they are stupid for not liking the
same things he likes.
I hope to address their social skills goal
of having appropriate conversations
with others.
SPED 628
Technology
https://cospaces.io/edu/
https://www.classvr.com/empathy-for-
autism-with-virtual-reality/
After doing some research, I found
Class VR, which gives different
suggestions of how to teach empathy
and appropriate conversations using VR.
The one suggestion was using Comin
Strips written by Carol Gray using
CoSpaces. The students get immersed
into a comic where they can see what
others are thinking or saying. After
looking at the conversation, they can
predict what the other person might say
or think before revealing the real
response. The other interesting thing
that the Class VR talked about was safe
spaces, where, when a child with ASD is
frustrated or overwhelmed, they can use
it to “escape” from the situation if a real
life location is not available. I will also
use video modeling and a website called
http://www.facesay.com/
The things I will need are:
Head set with pre-loaded videos using
CoSpaces
Social stories
Predictive conversations
Stephanie Jones SPED 628
Guiding Questions Pedagogical Approach Reflection
Some questions I will consider are: In order to teach this skill I will use video modeling, role Please see
Will the student feel comfortable with modeling and discussion. Blackboard
the head set? I would start with a discussion of what expectations are Discussion Board
Will the student participate fully in theduring appropriate conversations and get an understanding of to post both
activity? how they gauge other peoples’ emotions. I would explain to reflection
Will the student use the safe space when them that we would use different methods to understand other responses.
truly needed or just to avoid work or people and themselves more as they get ready to transition to
undesired activities? high school.
During instruction we would model and role play with other
I will run group social skills groups to students before using the VR to see how they actually interact
see how they talk to each other and will with others. I would explain this using the social stories while
collect data on appropriate talking to their partner and then attempt to follow best
conversations and understanding others’ practices during their VR attempt.
emotions. The backup plan in case VR I would hold a restorative circle about what went well and
isn’t working would be to hold a social what they could work on for next time. I would then do
skills lesson with the two students and another role play with the students to see if they can apply
some neurotypical students who will what they did during the VR activity.
role play. I would continue to use VR while we are attempting to work
on the appropriate conversation aspect of their social skills.
I think the VR could be used over multiple sessions in order
to strengthen their skills in a safe environment. A balance
would have to be implemented so that they practice in real
life.