How Minecraft is Helping Children with Autism (自闭症)
Like many constructions, it started small. But now thousands of children with autism are making friends and learning social skills by playing a version of online building game Minecraft.
Stuart Duncan got the idea through a popular blog he ran about his own experiences with autism as well as bringing up a son with autism. Other parents with autistic children started telling him that their kids were crazy about a game that let them explore a randomly generated wilderness.
So, in 2013, Duncan, a web developer in Timmins, Canada, set up a server to run a version of Minecraft exclusively for children with autism and their families.
The server caught the eye of Kate Ringland at the University of California, Irvine.
| A．Now, almost three years later, running “Autcraft” is his full-time job. |
| B．This is a great way for them to play a game they love, but also have a social experience. |
| C．Everyday social situations can be challenging for autistic children. |
| D．She has spent 60 hours inside this virtual world, watching how the kids play and chat to one another. |
| E．“Autcraft” builds from the interests and passions of people with autism rather than trying to redirect or surprise them. |
| F．However, despite loving the game, many of the children were being bullied by other players. |
We’ve all been there: sitting at your desk with an urgent deadline and a wandering mind. Despite your best efforts, things are not progressing. You need to focus on the task in front of you. You’re motivated to do it. But you just can’t concentrate. Here are ways to improve focus and concentration.
Get rid of distractions（分心的事）.
How do we focus better if we are always bothered with information? Make a practice blocking time in your schedule to do a specific task or activity.
Take a short break.
When you focus on something for a long time, your focus may begin to die down. You may feel more and more difficulty devoting your attention to the task.
It might feel counterintuitive （反常的） when you feel unable to concentrate, but remember that you choose where you focus. It’s tough to concentrate when your mind is always in the past and worrying about the future. While it isn’t easy, make an effort to let go of past events. Acknowledge the impact, what you felt, and what you learned from it, then let it go.
Switch tasks.
While we may want to concentrate on a particular task, sometimes we get stuck and our brain needs something fresh to focus on.
Set a daily priority.
Write down what you want to accomplish each day, ideally the night before, and identify a single priority that you commit to accomplishing.
| A．Choose to focus on the moment. |
| B．Recognize how it is affecting your life. |
| C．Decide what task you want to complete. |
| D．This will help focus your brain on what matters. |
| E．Try turning to other tasks or something you love to do. |
| F．Researchers have found that our brains tend to ignore sources of constant stimulation. |
| G．During this time, request that you be left alone or go to a place where no one disturbs you. |
Being Positive Is A Choice
As we all know, no job is always ideal and we often face obstacles that can impact our mood at work.
However, sitting back and waiting for positive change to happen will only lead to greater disappointment. You have to start somewhere when looking for a potential new opportunity. Where do you stand with these four critical steps?
When was your resume (简历) last updated?
I have heard, “Oh, I know I need to do that soon”, more times than I care to say. No one enjoys this task,
Are you networking?
We may all shrink at this since we think of having to meet with 20 strangers.
Are you current with new skills and technology?
The world is changing so fast and you have to stay up to speed with keeping your skills and new technology fresh. Take a class, read a book, and take a new course etc. These investments pay back with enormous profit.
Is your negativity at work now crossing into your personal life? Have you reviewed your hours doing business compared with personal time? This is so important and needs to be evaluated and discussed with your partner or friends on a regular basis. If you find that the negatives of work or personal life becoming too much, seeking professional assistance is a wise decision.
| A．Focus on one person at a time |
| B．but you always need to keep it fresh |
| C．Have you discussed with your family |
| D．We can’t be expected to be positive all of the time |
| E．There is nothing wrong with asking for that help |
| F．Have you truly evaluated your work-life balance |
| G．but you have accomplished more important things |
How to Avoid an Internet Addiction
While it may seem like everyone surfs the web these days, there is fine line between casually checking your social media pages and having a full blown Internet addiction. If you fear that you may lose interest in other aspects of your life because you prefer to be on the Internet, you may be on your way to an Internet addiction.
Admit you are at risk of an addiction.
Set aside limited time for computer use.
Make sure not to turm it on too many times a week. If you have a laptop, make sure to put it somewhere that you can remember but not somewhere that you see every day. Try keeping the lid closed when you are not using it.
Call people instead of sending instant messages or texts.
If you are free on weekends, call friends and ask them to go outside. This will distract you from the computer. If you have a problem on weekdays, phone your friends orask for help in person.
Before using your computer, decide on a time limit such as 30 minutes. Set the clock or timer and make sure that you get off the computer when the time is up. Alternatively create a shutdown timer shortcut on your desktop.
| A．Use an alarm clock or timer. |
| B．Make a small list of what you want to do within that time. |
| C．When the computer is not looking at you, you are less likely to use it. |
| D．Luckily, there are ways to avoid living your life in front of the computer. |
| E．This can be programmed to shut down your computer after the set time. |
| F．More and more people in the world are becoming addicted to the Internet. |
| G．This will stop you from using the Internet so often or going on to another page. |
组卷网是一个信息分享及获取的平台，不能确保所有知识产权权属清晰，如您发现相关试题侵犯您的合法权益，请联系组卷网
