Intuitive Technology for Special Needs Children

Anik Verner-Bernard, Carrie Armistead, Jennifer LeMesurier, Keila LindosoMcGill University

2014

Using Technology in Special Education

Intuitive Technology for Special Needs Children

Anik Verner-Bernard, Carrie Armistead, Jennifer LeMesurier, Keila LindosoMcGill University

2014

Using Technology in Special Education

Intuitive Technology-Natural User Interface (NUI)-"These intuitive technologies allow users to engage

in virtual activities with movements similar to what they would use in the real world, manipulating content intuitively."

(p.18) Horizon Report 2014

Theoretical Framework

- “Steve Mann (father of wearable computing) began the discussion about interfaces that went beyond command line interface and graphical user interface in the 1970s and 80s.” Horizon Report 2014

Horizon Report 2014

Theoretical Framework .

Smartphones and tablets, Xbox, Kinect, Nintendo Wii and “smart” TVs are all examples of NUIs.

“The future of “feel screen”-enhanced devices offers many possibilities for deeper interaction with educational content, and with it an accessibility that caters to users with physical and mental disabilities — making it a particularly exciting technology for K-12 special education.”

Horizon Report 2014

Todo Math app

iWriteWords app

Wearable Devices● Effective wearable devices become an extension of the person wearing them

● Not new category

Fitbit● daily activities, including sleep patterns, steps

● taken, and calories burned

Google Glasses

• Embraces the concept of Universal Design• Display relevant information for users as they go about

their daily routines• Access the Internet via voice command, communicate

email replies, and more.

How teachers can use Google Glasses

• Flip Your Classroom • Have Students Use Glass• Show math and science of everyday life from a first-person

perspective

Improving the lives of Special Needs Students

Several Google Glass features can be expanded on to help people with disabilities • Voice Activated Commands• Environmental & Facial Recognition• Wink To Take a Photograph

Alex Testimonial

Explore Apps for Special Education

- http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/29376/SpecialEducationApp.pdf

- http://blog.momswithapps.com/apps-for-special-needs/

- http://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps- http://www.appyautism.com/en/- “Special Education” in the app store

Assessment of Technology

- Teachers need to select the technology that best meets the special needs of their students.

- Know the difference between consumption and creation.

- Professional Development- Accessibility to technology

Implications for Policy, Leadership or Practice

- Auburn School District in Maine- Both the treatment (students with iPads) and

control groups received the same instruction with the exception of iPad use during the weekly instructional time for each student in the treatment group.

- This study suggests that the iPad had a significant positive impact on higher order skills within the treatment group.

Results from iPad Study

For Further Reading- Beyond the GUI: It’s Time for a Conversational User Interface

go.nmc.org/cuiwi- Gesture-Based Computing is Happening Just Like Sci-Fi Said It

Would go.nmc.org/diz- Interactive Virtual Reality in 3-D, The Newest Learning Tool

go.nmc.org/chaot- Project Envisions Teaching Fractions by Touch, Movement

go.nmc.org/fra