DIGITALASTRAS, A PLATFORM FOR THE COGNITIVE TRAINING OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: PRELIMINARY USABILITY AND GAME EXPERIENCE TESTING
1 Centro di Riabilitazione NeapoliSanit (ITALY)
2 Dipartimento di Psicologia dello sviluppo e della socializzazione, Università di Padova (ITALY)
3 Dipartimento degli studi umanistici, Università di Napoli Federico II (ITALY)
2 Dipartimento di Psicologia dello sviluppo e della socializzazione, Università di Padova (ITALY)
3 Dipartimento degli studi umanistici, Università di Napoli Federico II (ITALY)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2021 Proceedings
Publication year: 2021
Pages: 1716-1724
ISBN: 978-84-09-34549-6
ISSN: 2340-1095
doi: 10.21125/iceri.2021.0467
Publication year: 2021
Pages: 1716-1724
ISBN: 978-84-09-34549-6
ISSN: 2340-1095
doi: 10.21125/iceri.2021.0467
Conference name: 14th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 8-9 November, 2021
Location: Online Conference
Dates: 8-9 November, 2021
Location: Online Conference
Abstract:
Executive functions (EFs) may be defined as those cognitive processes which are crucial for a goal-directed activity and allow for an individual to meet environmental demands.A deficit of the executive functions has been reported in several neurodevelopmental disorders chiefly among them attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning specific disorder (LSD) and it is well known the extent to which this deficit affects the clinical condition, academic achievement, socialization as well as the inhibition of maladaptive and/or aggressive behaviors. Additionally, several studies show that standardized academic measures correlated more strongly with those tasks that are more demanding of EFs.
A growing interest about alternative methods for the assessment and training of executive functions in children is emerging since the technology has considerably advanced and gamification makes the cognitive interventions more engaging and enjoyable.
The present work aims to describe ASTRAS, a software for the assessment and training of executive functions in children and the data about the usability and game of experience in two samples of children: with typical (N= 378) and atypical (N=37) development.
Results demonstrated satisfying positive responses in both samples during the interaction of children with the software. That is, the 99% of children with typical and 93% with atypical development reported they liked the platform, manifested enjoyment or found it entertaining. Furthermore, children found the software easy to use and a small percentage of them, 18% of children with typical development and 19% of children with atypical development, ask for a support from the therapist.
Bind together, our results show that ASTRAS is usable and engaging for users and it triggers positive emotional reactions among them, which makes it promising for the assessment and training of executive functions in children with both typical and atyipical development.