An augmented reality PQRST based method to improve self-learning skills for preschool autistic children

Augmented reality (AR) technology is playing an important role in the preschool education. AR provides cost-effective learning systems which improve the attention skills of preschool children. In AR technology, the marker is used as an open-source computer tracking object to create AR applications that overlay virtual imagery on the physical world. Therefore, through augmented reality (AR) technology, learning materials, and knowledge can be visualized, and preschool children can learn interactively with the virtual model in an enjoyable manner and provide a stress-free teaching environment. This paper presents an ABCD AR Game for autistic children to learn the English alphabet innovatively. In the proposed system, a simple marker is used to recognize each character of the English alphabet to teach autistic children. After marker recognition, the ABCD AR-Game displays the corresponding image, helping students understand of English alphabets and their pronunciation, that provides multi-level gaming for reading, speaking, coloring, and writing under the teacher’s and parent’s supervision. The proposed system also provides game-based learning such as preview, question, read, self-recite, and test (PQRST) statistical method to optimize autistic children’s reading and learning of English alphabets. For evaluations, seventy-two (72) autistic children, their parents, and ten teachers participated and were divided into two groups for the assessment. Evaluation results indicated that autistic children, parents, and teachers reacted positively to the ABCD AR-Game. These results showed that ABCD AR-Game enhances autistic children’s learning and their motivation to learn about the English alphabet.