Abstract

SSST EDUCATIONAL VIDEO GAME FOR SPATIAL SKILLS TRAINING – CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PARENT’S ATTITUDE

Madhumathi K. MPT, (PhD)* and P. Senthil Selvam MPT, PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: In rehabilitation setting, the video games have a constructive impact on the cognition and motor domain. Due to motor problems the CP children engagement in schools are affected. The cerebral palsy children will have difficulties in visual perception, reasoning, and memory all these are related to mathematical ability. National education policy 2020 emphasis on education for all and focusing on early literally and numeracy. A well-designed video game can improve the “visuo-spatial processing skill”. The structured spatial skills training educational video game (SSST edugame) was developed on this concept. The acceptance of novel game technology in rehabilitation by the parents are important to apply it for their children. Method: Before and after cross-sectional analysis was done to measure the parent’s attitude on the SSST edugame. Parents (age group 31 – 40 years) who have children between the age group 6-9 years was included in the study. The children were instructed to play the game for 30 - 40 minutes in a day, three days in a week two months under the parental guidance. The Pre and post training survey on the following attributes - duration, perception, educational tool, time restrictions, addiction, child’s happiness, game progression, cartoon characters, therapy focused are analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 85 % parents accepted the game as educational game and 100 % of parents allowed their children to play the game. Discussion: The parents accepted the SSST edugame as therapeutically designed educational game and can be used by the children. Conclusion: Physiotherapist act as a connector between the “healthcare and educational” communities, this game can be used as a therapeutic intervention for CP kids and incorporated with their formal education.

Keywords: Educational game, Spatial skills, Inclusive education, NEP, Parent’s attitude.