There are various ways in helping a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD learn and the use of technology is one of them. Parents, however, have divided opinions about this - will technology become a blessing or a curse to the child with autism?
Teaching a child with ASD on how to learn is challenging. The experience was conformed by Susan Ruland in her article, which was published in Sun Times, and although she did not pursue autism as a subject in the academic field, she had seen autistic behaviour on a regular basis.
The advent of technology, apparently, has made the teaching-learning process in children with autism more meaningful. It has been reportedly observed by parents that some games and technologies became the sources of engagement and learning for children with ASD.
At present, new apps, games and technology are reportedly being developed for children with autism, which are used by schools that have special education programs. The implication, as noted by Randy Kulman, Ph.D., is helping the kids learn how to play while educating them.
Computers are important partners of the teacher in facilitating learning among children with autism. It is believed that children with this disorder, most often, perform better on computerized versions of tests compared with paper-and-pencil method.
Visual tools like charts, projectors, colorful materials, etc. can improve the engagement of children with autism. Video games may also help increase their motivation and generalization skills, Learning Works for Kids reported.
On the other hand, children with autism can also become so focused on a game that they no longer show interest in doing other activities. As a result, many experts believe that they may overly engage, become inattentive as a result of extended play time or develop obsession towards the game.
Meanwhile, further studies are still being conducted to assess the impact of technology among children with autism. Parents and educators, due to the aforementioned risks, are advised to use technology for learning with caution.
