Literacy LABELS

Young students with autism are visual learners who may have difficulty learning to read and communicate. The symbol card based learning system, PECS, has provided many autistic students with improved communication skills. A similar visual based learning system should be useful for teaching autistic students the association between a written word and physical object as a crucial first step in the process of learning to read.

Literacy LABELS is an iPad game application designed to be an engaging way for students with autism to begin early stage reading. The game consists of four levels. First, the student will use an iPad to scan objects labeled with a QR code in a series of rooms so the student can become accustomed to the objects, labels, and game flow. The application will contain a QR code reader that is also able to generate a QR code for the list of objects. A paper copy of the code and label will be printed through a wireless printer. The subsequent levels will increase in difficulty and are designed to gradually challenge the student to associate words with objects and then letters with sounds in the word. A friend of the student's choice, a hamster, cat, or dog, will guide the student through the game. Five correct answers in a level will earn the student's friend a different prize. The student will be able to improve reading skills with a different set of objects to identify and a new friend after full completion of a game set.

Advantages:

-Entertaining and engaging way to introduce reading skills

-Use of objects in the home provides familiar and comfortable setting for learning

-Gradual increase in difficulty facilitates skill building from identification of symbols to letter recognition

Potential Applications:

-Learning tool

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Autism reading app, visual learning system, early stage reading, iPad educational game, QR code learning, literacy tool autism, communication skills autism, PECS alternative, special education technology, object-word association