iPad/iPhone and Android apps in special education
September 2024 – Richard Hirstwood
Apps have been around for a long time now, and many have a proven track record in special education. This list will grow and include some familiar apps as well as a few new ones, specifically for those working with learners with PMLD, SLD, and neurodiverse needs.
This is not just text lifted from the internet. I’m going to give you ideas about how to use each app in some detail.
Most of the apps featured in the following pages are either free or low cost. But it’s very easy to fill your iPod full of cheap apps, so even though they are cheap make sure you investigate them well before you buy.
The key to a great iPad in education is an iPad which doesn’t have too many apps. Too much clutter on an iPad will mean that you will not be able to find things when you really need them. You will be much better off with a small number of apps that you really know how to use.
Here is the first featured app.
Cause and Effect Sensory Light Box – Developer – Cognable
What: This visual interactive app has been around for years and remains fantastic. It was originally designed for a group of teenagers with complex needs, such as visual impairments, autism, and developmental disabilities.
Purpose:
This app offers a simple yet powerful way to engage learners with severe learning difficulties. It provides a variety of visually stimulating activities that respond to touch, making it ideal for teaching cause and effect. It helps improve fine motor control and hand-eye coordination, while also offering visual stimulation. The app can be used on a small screen like an iPad or projected onto a larger surface, such as a screen or white umbrella. Additionally, it includes sound to further enhance the sensory experience. Connecting a bluetooth speaker and moving the sound can help with hearing and listening skills.
Key Features:
30 Interactive Scenes: These scenes respond to taps, swipes, and shakes, helping learners develop fine motor control and hand-eye coordination by moving their hands across the screen to create complex visual patterns.
Support for Visual Impairments: The moving imagery helps learners with cognitive and visual impairments locate the screen more easily.
Variable Volume Levels: Learners can practise sound location through speakers, encouraging active listening and auditory focus.
Custom Backgrounds: Teachers can upload personal photos to make the app more engaging for learners.
Multi sensory Approach: The combination of sound and visuals supports development by encouraging learners to use their stronger senses (e.g., hearing) to enhance weaker ones (e.g., vision). This motivates learners, especially those with visual impairments, to engage with both sound and imagery.
iOS: Cause and Effect Sensory Light Box on the App Store
Amazon: Cause and Effect Sensory Light box on Amazon
Light Box has also proven popular with parents and teachers of much younger children with and without special needs.
Uses: As described before, this app is highly beneficial for both visual stimulation and developing fine and gross motor control. It’s essential to ensure that the learner is in a comfortable position to visually and physically access the iPad. Give the learner time to recognise the imagery on the screen, and explain how they will interact with the app.
Demonstrate how the app works and how the learner can influence the visuals. You can experiment with sound, turning it on and off to observe differences in motivation. The app offers various visual options, so explore and select those most appropriate for your learner’s needs.
For learners with visual impairments, opt for a darker background to make the visual trails stand out. If the learn
er has a special interest, using a custom photo background can increase engagement by incorporating something they enjoy.
This app can also be used to promote listening skills. The sound can be adjusted or turned off, and for learners with hearing loss, consider using a Bluetooth speaker. This could be placed on the learner’s body to allow them to feel the vibrations, enhancing their sensory experience.
When using the app for visual stimulation, focus on slow, deliberate movements. It’s important to decide if you or the learner will create the patterns. Keep in mind that first-time users might struggle to multitask, so be prepared to provide guidance and demonstration.
If you’re using the app for control, turn it into a game. You could draw a shape or create a particular movement on the screen and encourage them to trace or copy it. There are many creative ways to use this app, whether for visual, auditory, or motor development.
