Name: DELMA ASSIS DOS SANTOS BARBOZA
Publication date: 19/03/2025
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ALBERTO FERREIRA DE SOUZA | Examinador Interno |
| CREDINÉ SILVA DE MENEZES | Examinador Externo |
| DAVIDSON CURY | Coorientador |
| LUCIA CATABRIGA | Presidente |
Summary: The inclusion of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the school environment
presents a significant challenge, particularly in mathematics education, which requires
cognitive skills that are often impaired in these students. In this context, this study intro-
duces TEA HelpBot, a Conversational Pedagogical Assistant (CPA) based on generative
Artificial Intelligence (AI), designed to support autistic students in learning mathematics
in the final years of elementary education. Implemented within a specialized Pedagogical
Architecture and integrated into the Moodle Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), it
was developed based on accessibility guidelines and inclusive pedagogical methodologies,
with a design that emphasizes adapted textual interaction, avoiding direct answers and
encouraging students’ autonomy.
The research combined a Systematic Literature Mapping (SLM) on accessibility for ASD
students in web-based environments with the implementation of a functional prototype.
TEA HelpBot was designed following textual language accessibility guidelines found in the
literature. Tested with 13 autistic students, its interaction was evaluated through dialogue
efficiency metrics and participants’ perception of their user experience.
The results indicated that interaction with TEA HelpBot increased the rate of correct
responses, reduced unanswered questions, and provided a more accessible and inclusive
learning environment. The qualitative analysis of feedback revealed that students felt
more comfortable interacting with the assistant, reinforcing the importance of digital
solutions tailored to ASD needs. The study concludes that accessible CPAs can significantly
contribute to the digital and pedagogical inclusion of students with special educational
needs. This research highlights AI’s role as an inclusive tool in education.
