Virtual Speech Center did it again!
They created a brand new app, Seasonal Directions.
SLPs LOVE seasonal materials so this is just AWESOME! I love an app that allows me to target my speech skills and connects with the seasonal activities we are already doing in the therapy room.
If you are familiar with other Virtual Speech Center apps, it follows a similar layout. I love that they keep everything alike so it is easy for SLPs to learn and use quickly. You can alter the settings from the main page. My favorite feature of the settings is the ability to enable and manipulate the background noise. We are always working to teach our students to filter out background noise to assist in their ability to attend to auditory information. I love that this app helps us do that in a fun way!
You can easily select a class and students once you click “start.” Just hit “add student” and add them to the list. This app stores the names in the list for future use. This allows for saving information, activities done, and results. Once you add the student, click their name to “check” them into the activity and then select the season. Well..it is winter so let's go with that one! Once you click the students and the season, just click “next” to continue.
Now, you can select the directions/activities. You can select from:
- one step directions (10 different levels)
- multi-step directions (3 different levels)
Click the activity or multiple activities per student and click “next.” My recommendation, stick with one type per session. The app goes through all of one type anyway before it moves onto the next and I usually never have time in a session to do another type. I love that you can individualize the activities for each student. If you do it ahead of time, the group won't even know that each student has a different target.
Students are introduced to the activity with a cute snowman! Then, they are given an auditory direction to complete with the scene provided. Below, my direction was “touch the scarf under the sled.”
I love that students can request and get a repetition! That is my MAIN strategy I am always teaching my students! I also love it uses theme vocabulary. Once students respond correctly, they can see snowmen arrive in the scene. I love that the app allows you to pace, it doesn't automatically move onto the next question. This allows for teaching time with is awesome. Once you are ready, click “next” to get another task.
If you wanted to switch students just click the name on the top. If you wanted to switch levels you originally selected, you can click the level bar on the top. After 5 correct responses, you get to see the cute snowman again granting you the option to play a game (you can take this option off in the settings but why would you!). This game is granted for each student once they reach the 5 correct responses.
OMG I love the game! Students can tap the screen to throw a snowball to hit the snowmen passing across the screen in a limited time! SO MOTIVATING!!!!!!
The final score is shown with the amount of snowmen on the top of the screen.
The app allows the student to get to 10 trials. Then, it shows a score report. Here, you can print, email, screen shot it, or just go back to the main menu.
You can always access score reports from the main page by clicking “reports.” Here, you can select the user, and sort by activity or by date.
Learn more about this app by visiting iTunes! I highly recommend it!
Interested in learning about another Virtual Speech Center app? Check out this post about their All Critical Thinking app!
