Immersive Content Experience Classrooms for Students with Disabilities: Development and Practical Use in South Korea

Despite being a digital powerhouse, South Korea still faces a significant digital divide between people with disabilities and those without disabilities. In order to fill the gap between these two groups, the government is supposed to be responsible for providing quality education. As part of this initiative, the NISE (National Institute of Special Education) has recently established experience classrooms in 78 special education schools nationwide, utilizing immersive content that has proven to be effective in utilizing digital technology. These classrooms have been selected to alleviate educational inequality in consideration of, among others, how the educational environment is poor, with a budget of $71,428.5 on average for each classroom. Each experience classroom is operated by one teacher and one assistant, accommodating from four to six students. The classrooms are equipped with immersive content and various activities including curriculum-based learning, physical training, community-based activities and free play. Research has shown that experience classrooms have positive effects, such as improved attention span, increased learning interest, enhanced physical fitness, and improved understanding of order and rules. It was suggested, for addressing experience classrooms, that developing customized content, support of assistant personnel, collection of evidence regarding effectiveness and carrying out the practical training are critical. The government should be responsible for those supports for students subject to special education who are prone to digital alienation.