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| How Minecraft And Technology Integration Helps Autistic Children Make New Friends |
Image credit- Caroline Knorr
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-minecraft
Usefulness of minecraft and technology integration to autistic children
Minecraft and technology integration helps Autistic children make new friends.Playing video games online can be antisocial, but the Autcraft community helps children with autism learn social skills and build relationships.
Like many builds, it starts small. But now, thousands of children with autism are making friends and learning social skills by playing this version of the online construction game Minecraft.
Today, almost three years later, directing "Autcraft" is his full-time job. The community has nearly 7,000 members, as well as a team of administrators to help manage many of the community's activities. “Parents see that benefit for themselves and their children,” says Duncan.
"Minecraft removes the pressures and distractions of the real world. You can truly be yourself"
The server caught the attention of Kate Ringland from the University of California at Irvine. She spent 60 hours in this virtual world, observing how the children played and talked to each other. Ringland sees Autocraft as not just another online community, but a tool to help children with autism practice their social skills. She will present her work at the Human Factor in Computing conference in San Jose, California next month.
In Minecraft, you manipulate blocks of materials like wood and stone to build anything you want, from town arcades to simple computers. "It's a great way for them to play a game they love, but also have a social experience," says Ringland. "It provides these kids with an alternative way to express themselves and communicate without the stresses of physical life."
Everyday social situations can be difficult for a child with autism, who may have difficulty absorbing social cues or understanding the point of view of others. Duncan thinks Minecraft removes typical real-world pressures. No noisy or unfamiliar surroundings to distract you, no pressure to follow other people's facial expressions or worry about eye contact. "With Minecraft, you can really be yourself," he said. "Social interactions, relationships, communication - it all depends on you and your keyboard."
To join Autocraft, you need to complete an application. Once approved, you are free to roam the landscape and build your own structures. You can also participate in team games - like massive battles against "tourniquets", a type of ghostly villain - or build things up as a team. But you have to follow certain rules. Harassing other players or destroying their property may get you banned. The derivative teen server is a bit more permissive.
Ringland observed players on Autocraft and learned through discussions on related online forums. She sees people forming friendships and having fun together. She has also seen children express their feelings - joy after a good time in the game, and anxiety or sadness in the face of real-world problems. "There's a lot of thinking going on," she said. "Minecraft greatly supports this social behavior."
Joining a community like Autcraft can be a good first step to feeling less socially anxious and more engaged, says Elizabeth Laugeson, director of the PEERS Clinic at the University of California, Los Angeles, which teaches youth Autism how to build relationships, said. But that's not the only way to learn those skills, she said. "Minecraft don't necessarily teach the social skills they need to navigate the real world."
Where it works, however, Autcraft shows how powerful it can be to create social environments that focus on the common good, says Matthew Lerner of Stony Brook University in New York. "It's based on the interests and passions of people with autism rather than trying to divert or surprise them."
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