AnAn International Education Foundation Hong Kong (Charity) Limited

Happy VR Badminton 2019 Summer

Pioneer measure: Happy VR Badminton 2019 Summer

“Happy VR Badminton 2019 Summer” was organized by AnAn International Education Foundation Hong Kong, and co-organized & supported by the Hong Kong Badminton Association, the Hong Kong Island West Rotary Club Hong Chi Morninghope School & the Eastern District (Jade Constituency) Lai Chi Keung District Councilor. The event was conducted successfully from July 22 to Aug 2, 2019 in Hong Chi Morninghope School, Chai Wan.

VR_Badmintons_Supporting_Organizations

Activity details

Purposes of the event are to provide summer parent-child activities for autistic students, to let them experience VR badminton and sports, enjoy the fun, keep fit, exercise hands, feet & body coordination, as well as enhance concentration.

The event was planned by Mr. Clement So, who was invited as the VR Technical Director of the project. The event’s badminton course was coached by our Association’s volunteer, Mr. Chun Heng CHIU, Jayden, who has good badminton skill and autistic student coaching experience.

The event was a pioneer activity of our “Research VR Courseware for Autism Project” project. We have conduct a pioneer measure by observing and gathering data from all aspects during the courses. Our findings are:

  1. The participants were very grateful.
  2. The students were very happy and the parents were satisfied.
  3. The school and the tutor found improvements details.

The following is a summary of the collected opinions and effects:

A) The students and their parents’ findings

1. This event helps autistic students

  1. Parent-child relationship: 75%
  2. Focus: 100%
  3. Coordination ability: 100%

2. Familiar to VR

  1. Contacted: 12.5%
  2. No contact: 87.5%

3. Are the autistic students interested in VR badminton practice?

  1. Yes: 100%
  2. No: 0%

4. Are the autistic students interested in continuing VR badminton practice?

  1. Yes: 87.5%
  2. No: 12.5%

5. How much time do the autistic students are willing to spend on VR badminton practice?

  1. Once a week: 25%
  2. Twice a week: 37.5%
  3. Once every 2 days: 0%
  4. 45+ minutes per day: 0%
  5. 30 minutes per day: 12.5%
  6. 15-30 minutes per day: 12.5%

6. Where are the autistic students willing to practice?

  1. At school: 87.5%
  2. At home: 37.5%
  3. Other/Anywhere: 24%

7. The autistic students are willing to practice

  1. Alone: 25%
  2. Practice with classmates: 75%
  3. Accompanied with parents: 37.5%
  4. Teacher guidance: 75%

8. Do the autistic students need to get VR equipment for free or be subsidized?

  1. Yes: 62.5%
  2. No: 25%

9. Need to coordinate with the real-site sports?

  1. Yes: 87.5%
  2. No: 0%

10. The frequency of real-site sports should be

  1. Once a week: 37.5%
  2. Twice a week: 37.5%
  3. Once a day: 12.5%
  4. Irregular: 0%

11. The coordination of real-site sports should be

  1. Parental accompaniment: 37.5%
  2. Teacher guidance: 75%
  3. Classmate participation: 87.5%
  4. Coaching: 100%

12. Promote this event to all SEN schools in Hong Kong

  1. Support: 100%
  2. Not support: 0%

B) The coach’s findings, by Chun Heng CHIU (Jayden)

Over the past month, I had the privilege to coach my favorite sport to a wonderful group of talented students. As the badminton team captain of my school, I had many opportunities to mentor my peers, but this was a completely new experience for me. I have heard diverse remarks about children with different types of autism, and it would be naïve to say that I was not a little bit nervous in the beginning. However, I became much more relaxed as the sessions went by, and I really enjoyed every moment we spent together.

From struggling to perform keep-ups to successfully lifting the birdie over the net using both forehand and backhand, their improvement and maturity were evident and exemplified beyond the badminton court. When it came to hitting the birdie, they were very focused and highly attentive to my instructions. It fills me with immeasurable joy that they all relished the experience, and I felt I had formed a special bond with them. Many students even asked for more lessons in the end.

They are full of potential with an extraordinary drive and determination. Under the proper support, guidance, and care, they certainly have a bright future ahead of them. Hopefully, these kids would grow to love the sport as much as I do. I would very much like to coach them again.

C) The teachers’ findings

  1. Opinion on this activity is good.
  2. Activities help students:
    • Parent-child relationship
    • Focusing ability
    • Body coordination
  3. The students are playing happily and with improvement
  4. Benefits of parental involvement:
    • Reassuring students
    • More involvement
    • The activity needs to have assistance
  5. Environmental requirements：Air conditioning, sufficient lighting, space, fast hardware, software suitable for autism.
  6. It is worthwhile to continue this activity.
  7. Will continue to participate in this event.
  8. Supports to promote this event in Hong Kong

D) The school’s findings

  1. Have been exposed to VR.
  2. Opinion on this activity is Good.
  3. Activity expectation:
    • Enhance the body coordinating ability
    • Develop Badminton & sports interests
  4. Meets the expectations for this activity.
  5. Student registration is active.
  6. Activities help students
    • Parent-child relationship
    • Focusing ability
    • Body coordination
  7. It is worthwhile to continue this activity.
  8. Supports to promote this event to other special schools.
  9. Others:
    • Wireless VR eyeglasses.
    • Interactive activity design.
    • Course design to suit the special needs of students.

E) Conclusion

Subsequent to the satisfied deliverables of the pioneer measure event, Summer Badminton VR 2019, our foundation was honored to recruit a volunteer team of medical researcher and practicing doctors of various relevant disciplines to enhance & concrete the Badminton VR courseware. Furthermore, we are intended to kick off a research & development project of “Badminton VR Therapy”, funded by Government of HKSAR’s Innovation and Technology Fund for Better Living, for the autistic students in SEN & ordinary schools. We aims to develop a therapy, through formal medical procedure with international recognition, for the autism to enhance their cognitive ability.