Art activities as learning tool to enhance social skills on children with autism spectrum disorder/ Nurul Ain Mohd Ilias

In the Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013-2025) Ministry of Education has highlighted that the situation faced in special need education area are lack of qualified teachers, lack of adapted curriculum and assessment and inadequate facilities. This research was conducted in order to provide facilities in teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the usability of art activities design as a learning tool to enhance social skills on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Three children were chosen to participate in the three stages of art activities designed. Five target goals were embedded into each activity in order to determine the development of social skills. The three activities were conducted at three different stages: individual (one-to-one), pair and group activities. This research used Design and Developmental research design. There are three phases involved in this research: Need Analysis Phase, Design and Development Phase and Evaluation Phase. Three methods were used in need analysis phase to collect data. ASSURE Model was used in design and development phase and open-ended survey in the evaluation phase. The findings indicated that the art activities designed can help to enhance socials skills among the children with ASD. The children showed positive progress in terms of the social skills from the development of activities designed. The art activities learning tool designed can be used for ASD to enhance social skills. However, in depth research need to be done to strengthen the usability of the art tool kits. In conclusion, based on the findings of this research, art activities can be used as learning tools to enhance social skills on children with ASD.