This document discusses using virtual reality (VR) for teacher professional development to increase empathy for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). VR scenarios will be created to simulate ASD experiences. Teachers and learning support assistants will use the VR and complete an evaluation to measure changes in their self-reported empathy levels. The goal is to positively impact users' empathy towards ASD through an immersive VR experience. A team from the University of Malta is conducting this research on using VR for teacher training.

1. VIRTUAL REALITY
For Professional Development

2. RESEARCHTALK
DrVanessa Camilleri
Department of Artificial Intelligence
University of Malta

3. Sensory Stimulation
Evokes Emotions

4. VR presents situations in ways which no
other medium can emulate

5. VR makes things possible

6. Walking in Small Shoes
Living Autism

7. VR Experience for
Teachers/LSAs CPD

8. Scripted Scenarios
to create realistic settings

9. Evaluation measures in
self-reported empathy

10. Positive Impact on Users’ Empathy
level with Autism Spectrum Disorder

11. CPD in a School Setting

12. PublicTalks

13. THETEAM
• AcademicTeam: Dr.Vanessa Camilleri, Prof.Alexiei Dingli, Prof. Matthew
Montebello, Prof.Vince Briffa
• Researchers: Foaad Haddod, Joe Camilleri, Steffi deMartino, David Scicluna
• Actors: Masquerade Drama School
• ContributingTeachers and Learning Support Assistants: StTheresa College,
Lija Balzan Iklin Primary School
• Filming Location: StTheresa College, Lija Balzan Iklin Primary School
• SpecialThanks goes to the Association of Parents of Children having
Autism Spectrum Disorder

14. –Chris Milk
“Virtual reality is the ultimate empathy machine.These
experiences are more than documentaries.They're
opportunities to walk a mile in someone else's shoes.”
Thank you!
For any queries contact:
vanessa.camilleri@um.edu.mt