Be PART of it!

During the pandemic, many people became aware that participation in daily school life is not a given. However, there have always existed groups in our society that constantly struggle for their (social) participation.

In Austria, around 190,000 children and adolescents are affected by chronic illnesses, which presents significant challenges for their social and educational participation. Many are unable to attend classes regularly due to treatments or hospital stays, often leading to a diminished sense of belonging and negative impacts on their mental health. To strengthen the sense of belonging among students and to prevent issues arising from school absence, support options such as telepresence systems are being proposed.

The “Be PART of it!” project was launched to explore the use of the telepresence system Avatar AV1 among children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. The Avatar AV1 is a robotic head that sits in the classroom at the desk of the child who is not physically present. Through an app, the avatar is connected to the tablet of the affected child, allowing them to actively participate in class despite their physical absence. The avatar transmits audio in both directions, while the video transmission occurs only in one direction, enabling the child to see their class.

To examine the use of the Avatar AV1, the participants' sense of belonging at school was recorded using questionnaires and a specially developed app. The data collected in real time (Ecological Momentary Assessment), indicate that the Avatar AV1 acts as a bridge between the children and their school community, providing them with a sense of belonging despite their physical absence.

Within the Be PART of it! project, the focus was not only on scientific knowledge acquisition but also on the participatory research approach. This approach actively engages individuals with firsthand experience related to the research focus throughout the entire process. In this project, this included the participation of students from the Technological High School Vienna (TGM), who experience school life firsthand. The students were considered co-researchers. Additionally, the experiences and perspectives of patient experts were incorporated, providing valuable insights into the challenges and needs of those affected due to their own chronic illnesses. From planning to data collection and the analysis of results, this ensures that the perspectives of the affected individuals are taken into account.

The insights gained from the Be PART of it! project aim to contribute to the educational integration of children and adolescents with chronic illnesses and to strengthen their sense of belonging within the school community. The participatory research approach guarantees that the research is not only objective and scientifically grounded but also practically relevant and useful for all involved. Furthermore, the participatory research approach we used aims to have a guiding effect on other research projects.