Special Needs: Avatars in Schools

A 3-D Learning Space is being developed especially for students with disabilities. Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia are teaming to create a virtual classroom  where students who have physical and learning disabilities can go to learn STEM subjects with a mentor. The idea is to offer these students the support they need to move ahead in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Researchers have found that students with disabilities will often “go” into virtual worlds by choosing avatars that represent their disability. It is hoped that these students will feel free in the virtual space to ask for help from their virtual mentors.