Development of the first AR scenario for the behavioural expectation ‘Walk Calmly’

 

Researchers of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands) and the National Research Council, Institute for Educational Technologies (Italy) are currently developing a set of 12 AR animated 3D scenario’s for modelling and practising behavioural expectations and routines by students aged 9-12. The 3D AR objects will be integrated in an AR app that will be tested in the school year 2021/2022 to understand how AR facilitates behavioural learning and self-regulation skills and whether the school climate and social dynamics improve accordingly. Based on a scoping review of the literature, ideas of Positive Behaviour experts, and a range of expectation matrices developed by schools, the Pilot 3 team has identified the values that are most chosen, e.g., Respect, Responsibility, and Safety, and selected the behavioural expectations that go with these values, such as ‘Use your speaking voice’ or ‘Keep hands and feet to yourselves’. The values and expectations were listed in a so-called Behavioural Expectation Matrix for ARETE. Based on this matrix the team selected one of the most promoted behavioural expectations in a school environment, which is ‘Walk calmly’, which aligns with the value Responsibility and Safety. For example, we expect children to ‘Walk calmly’ when entering or exiting the main school door of the school building or when moving in the main hallway. Modeling and teaching the behavioural expectation ‘Walk calmly’ in these non-classroom settings means teaching and practicing the following steps to develop self-regulatory skills:

- Move safely

- Stay patient

- Head straight through the door to the corridor/ hallways or out of the school

- Be aware of your personal space and maintain personal space

- Follow proper distance and direction guidelines

Some of these skills, such as Be aware of your personal space and maintain personal space, Follow proper distance and direction guidelines are useful also as behavioural practices for preventing the increased risk of COVID-19 virus contagion.

Currently the research group has realized the first storyboard of the behavioural routine ‘Walk Calmly’ and in collaboration with Sylphelabs - https://www.sylphelabs.com will develop the first set of the 12 AR animated scenario’s dedicated to the development of software tools for supporting behavioural management skills in education.

Dr. Giuseppe Chiazzese

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Palermo, Italy

Dr. Antonella Chifari

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Palermo, Italy

Dr. Sui Lin Goei

VU Amsterdam, Netherlands