The International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI2023, which is held every year with more than 800 participants from 80 different countries, was held in Seville for the 16th time this year. At the conference, a scientific study examining the effectiveness of the YanYana project, which was created with the cooperation of researchers working at the Seljuk Foundation for Individuals with Autism Education (SOBE), Innova and SEBİT, was also published.

Abstract of the proceeding text...

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects learning, behavior, social interaction, and communication skills in individuals. The prevalence of ASD has been on the rise, with a 317% increase in diagnoses between 2000 and 2023. To address the growing demand for interventions and therapies for individuals with ASD, technological advancements have introduced new opportunities in education. Mobile applications, particularly those supported by artificial intelligence (AI), have shown promise in teaching academic, communication, and social skills to individuals with ASD. YanYana is an AI-supported mobile application designed for this purpose. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of YanYana, an iPad-based AI-supported mobile application, in improving instruction and response skills in three children with ASD aged 3 to 7 years. The research methodology involved participant criteria, session settings, and a detailed description of YanYana's features and usage. Interobserver reliability, procedural fidelity, and an experimental design were also explained. Results indicate that YanYana effectively facilitated progress in answering questions and following instructions for the participants. The study underscores the potential of AI-supported applications like YanYana in tailoring educational experiences for children with ASD. While research in AI's role in ASD has mainly focused on diagnosis, this study contributes to the field of education and highlights the need for further research. It also acknowledges the application's developmental improvements and recommends expanding the scope of future studies. In conclusion, YanYana demonstrates promise in enhancing the educational experiences of children with ASD. However, the study's limitations, such as a small sample size and the need for maintenance data, suggest avenues for future research and improvements in AIBASED interventions for ASD.

You can find the full text of the paper here..