Mobile Learning Class: My Choice is the RIGHT choice! (a case study)

My Choice Board

My Choice Board is a visual representation of available ‘choices’ for any given situation. The My Choice Board app is mainly targeted toward those with limited communication skills. Commonly the app is used with children with autism, communication delays, or learning disabilities. These children are able to view a visual display of possible selections and are given the ability to express themselves and their specific wants and needs. Some of the common schedules are meal choices, free time choices, clothing choices, and many more. Custom boards can be created to express any personal preference or decision.

This app can easily be used in classrooms with students who lack properly developed communication skills. These students can use the app to become accustomed to mobile technology and to ease decision-making difficulties. Educational schedules include ‘activity station’ choices, lunch choices, related arts choices (i.e. music, PE, art, foreign language, etc.), reading choices, writing topic choices, etc. My Choice app can easily improve classroom management especially when used in classrooms with large numbers of students with limited communication skills. While the My Choice Board app can improve communication skills, it can also serve as a great introduction to iPad or iPod use as a communication tool.

Features

-Add your own custom images to schedules: Adults can add images to personalize the schedules for each child. Photos are uploaded to My Choice and can then be added to any future schedules.

-Record sound to the images: Adults can record sound (i.e. the verbal form of each choice) to not only reinforce the available choice, but to also help with verbal communication development.

-Circle/slash used to show a choice is ‘unavailable’: The red circle and slash through it can be added on top of any choice image to show that that specific choice is unavailable.

-Simple setup: Easy to use and customize!

How does it work?

Once the images are selected and downloaded the individual touches the preferred choice to show their preference. Once the choice has been made the selection is displayed in the “I want” strip at the top of the screen. If the individual touches the image again the image is enlarged and the prerecorded message is produced (if created originally).