research-article

How a Remote Video Game Coding Camp Improved Autistic College Students' Self-Efficacy in Communication

Authors:

Conner Phillis,

Paige RodegheroAuthors Info & Claims

SIGCSE '21: Proceedings of the 52nd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

Pages 142 - 148

https://doi.org/10.1145/3408877.3432516

Published: 05 March 2021 Publication History

Abstract

Communication and teamwork are essential skills for software developers. However, these skills are often difficult to learn for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We designed, developed, and ran a 13-day, remote video game coding camp for incoming college first-year students with ASD. We developed instructional materials to teach computer programming, video game design, and communication and teaming skills. Students used the MakeCode Arcade development environment to build their games and Zoom to remotely collaborate with their teammates. In summative interviews, students reported improved programming skills, increased confidence in communication, and better experiences working with others. We also found that students valued the opportunity to practice teaming, such as being more vocal in expressing ideas to their peers and working out differences of opinion with their teammates. Two students reported the remote learning environment decreased their anxiety and stress, both are frequent challenges for autistic people. We plan to rerun the camp next year with materials that we have made available online.

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Cited By

Vostinár P(2024)MakeCode arcade platform for game-based learningComputer Science and Information Systems10.2298/CSIS231111021V21:3(971-988)Online publication date: 2024
https://doi.org/10.2298/CSIS231111021V
Halabieh SLai MLin HShu L(2024)Computer programming a chatbot to improve social-communication skills in autistic children: A feasibility studyNeurodiversity10.1177/275463302412452902Online publication date: 22-Apr-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330241245290
Graßl IFraser GRoychoudhury APaiva AAbreu RStorey MGama KSiegmund J(2024)Coding to Cope: Teaching Programming to Children with Emotional and Behavioral DisordersProceedings of the 46th International Conference on Software Engineering: Software Engineering Education and Training10.1145/3639474.3640078(127-138)Online publication date: 14-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3639474.3640078
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

How a Remote Video Game Coding Camp Improved Autistic College Students' Self-Efficacy in Communication
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Accessibility
    1. Accessibility design and evaluation methods
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Informal education

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cover image ACM Conferences

SIGCSE '21: Proceedings of the 52nd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

March 2021

1454 pages

ISBN:9781450380621

DOI:10.1145/3408877

General Chairs:
Mark Sherriff
University of Virginia, USA
,
Laurence D. Merkle
Air Force Institute of Technology, USA
,
Program Chairs:
Pamela Cutter
Kalamazoo College, USA
,
Alvaro Monge
California State University, Long Beach, USA
,
Judithe Sheard
Monash University, Australia

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Published: 05 March 2021

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Cited By

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https://doi.org/10.2298/CSIS231111021V
Halabieh SLai MLin HShu L(2024)Computer programming a chatbot to improve social-communication skills in autistic children: A feasibility studyNeurodiversity10.1177/275463302412452902Online publication date: 22-Apr-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330241245290
Graßl IFraser GRoychoudhury APaiva AAbreu RStorey MGama KSiegmund J(2024)Coding to Cope: Teaching Programming to Children with Emotional and Behavioral DisordersProceedings of the 46th International Conference on Software Engineering: Software Engineering Education and Training10.1145/3639474.3640078(127-138)Online publication date: 14-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3639474.3640078
Moster MKokinda EBoyer DRodeghero PRoychoudhury APaiva AAbreu RStorey MGama KSiegmund J(2024)Experiences with Summer Camp Communication via DiscordProceedings of the 46th International Conference on Software Engineering: Software Engineering Education and Training10.1145/3639474.3640067(56-65)Online publication date: 14-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3639474.3640067
Fokum DChen Shui ZWright KParadise OMansingh GCoore DStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)A High School Camp on Algorithms and Coding in a Small Island Developing StateProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630762(352-358)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
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Liebel GSigurðardóttir S(2024)Economical Accommodations for Neurodivergent Students in Software Engineering Education: Experiences from an Intervention in Four Undergraduate CoursesEquity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Software Engineering10.1007/978-1-4842-9651-6_24(413-427)Online publication date: 21-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-9651-6_24
Xu QLiu Y(2023)Research on the Applicability of Makecode Arcade from the Perspective of Resource AllocationProceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Internet, Education and Information Technology (IEIT 2023)10.2991/978-94-6463-230-9_88(741-747)Online publication date: 31-Aug-2023
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Cardoso-Pereira IGomes GRibeiro DSouza ALucena DPinto G(2023)Supporting the Careers of Developers With Disabilities: Lessons From Zup InnovationIEEE Software10.1109/MS.2023.328254440:5(58-65)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2023
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Laronze FLanduran AN’Kaoua B(2023)Technologies to Support Self-determination for People with Intellectual Disability and ASDHuman and Artificial Rationalities10.1007/978-3-031-55245-8_2(19-35)Online publication date: 19-Sep-2023
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Moster MKokinda ERe MDominic JLehmann JBegel ARodeghero PPéraire CSerebrenik A(2022)"Can you help me?"Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE 44th International Conference on Software Engineering: Software Engineering Education and Training10.1145/3510456.3514154(50-61)Online publication date: 21-May-2022
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