JustifiCation

This project, based on the use of a stuffed animal with a micro:bit board and the help of artificial intelligence when programming it, shows pictograms according to the applied movements (calm or rejection), and aims to help a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the emotional development stage.

Children with ASD may experience difficulties when identifying, expressing and managing their emotions. These difficulties can translate into disruptive behavior or discomfort, especially when they do not have simple and accessible mechanisms to channel these emotions.

By using the stuffed animal, the student receives clear visual feedback (smiling face or sad face) that facilitates the understanding of the cause-effect relationship between their movements and the response of the system. This multisensory strategy encourages awareness of the control of one's own behavior, promoting calmer movements and better emotional management.

The benefits of the project can be summarized in these aspects:

• Socio-emotional development, because it facilitates the understanding and management of emotions through a motivating and safe tool.

• Self-regulation because it promotes the transition from sudden movements to calmer behaviors thanks to the positive reinforcement of the smiley pictogram.

• Inclusion because it offers the student a strategy adapted to the sensory and cognitive needs of a child with ASD.

• Visual learning because the use of pictograms facilitates understanding for children who respond better to visual stimuli than verbal ones.

This project is aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are detailed in full and how the proposal is linked:

SDG 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, because this project contributes to promoting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children by providing tools to manage emotions and reduce stress.

SDG 4, Quality Education, because it offers an inclusive methodology that respects special educational needs, promoting personalized and quality education for children with ASD.

SDG 10, Reducing Inequalities, because it promotes the educational and social inclusion of students, promoting intervention strategies to reduce barriers to learning and participation.

In short, this project combines technology, emotional education and inclusion to offer a safe and motivating environment for the child's personal development.