| Beschreibung: |
With over 520,000 long-term ill children and adolescents in the EU, every sixth classroom has an empty desk. (Source: No Isolation: AV1, KOMP & Loneliness Facts. Research Guide 2018). Currently, about 17.000 children and adolescents in Austria cannot attend school regularly due to cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic diseases and disabilities. The project draws attention to the inclusion of children with chronic disease who cannot attend school over a long period. A solution is needed, since all children have the right to education and psycho-social care, while affected by illness. The absence of children from school can therefore cause academic challenges (e.g. grade repetition or early school leaving) as well as social and / or emotional problems. A lack of a sense of belonging, which can be experienced by children with chronic illnesses, and the associated feelings of social isolation are associated with further negative consequences, such as psychological secondary illnesses, reduced well-being, low self-esteem and less successful coping with illness. The professional careers of the children are also at risk due to lower school or educational qualifications. In recent years, telepresence systems like video conferencing and virtual classroom solutions have become increasingly important tools allowing for continuing educational activities of the ill children in their normal school environment. A fairly recent technology used in this context is the deployment of avatars. With this kind of technology, children are given the possibility of participating in ordinary school activities and being in touch with their classmates and teachers, and even taking part in social events during school hours. An avatar is a communication robot that enables pupils with long-term constraints to participate in class and social life via an app on their tablet. The pupil can connect via the app and controls the avatar's movements on the screen by swiping and tapping. With a built-in speaker, microphone and camera, the child can see, hear and speak with their teacher and classmates in class. The avatar has an integrated SIM card and can be activated anytime, anywhere. Hence, the avatar can take part not only in school lessons but also in excursions and other social activities as well. Thus, it opens up new potentials for full social participation. The present project is based on research carried out by Medical University of Vienna, the applicant Alpen Adria University Klagenfurt, Wiener Heilstättenschule and die Berater. This research evidences that social interaction is as important as the continuation of education for the young people in question. It is crucial for the mental and physical well-being of the young people to be enabled to stay connected with their schoolmates. The ill child needs to stay in touch with their school classes to prevent social isolation and ensuing negative effects on their health. On the other hand, classmates also need to be trained and socialized into engaging with their classmate in-and-through this kind of digital technology. They have to cope with the fact that a classmate is chronically ill and learn how to interact with their peer in this special situation and through digital technology.
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