Teaching nonverbal children on the autism spectrum how to read and/or communicate can be challenging. The myLevelUP app is a customizable app that teaches children how to read while building vocabulary and communication skills.
Unlike similar apps, parents or educators are able to add custom words, audio clips, and images. These customizations are then added to a series of learning game activities.
The myLevelUP app offers five simple learning games designed to help children practice numeracy, literacy, and communication skills.
“Each game is designed to build vocabulary and generalize language concepts by drawing on content from each particular child’s own life. They can learn the names of people, places, pets, objects, etc in their life by adding to their own custom words list.”
The format of the app will be familiar to any parent of a child on the spectrum: the child is presented with a series of simple tasks that are the building blocks of the skill being taught. After completing the tasks, the child is rewarded with their choice of a “reinforcer.”
The app’s website goes on to explain the app more:
“We know this kind of learning works best when the tasks are personalized to the individual child’s particular challenges, strengths, interests and preferences. On the learning side, we achieve this personalization by making it easy to add new words to the game, for example the names and pictures of the child’s family members or peers. On the reward side, personalization comes from setting up the custom YouTube playlist, or by setting up some other preferred website as a reward.”
In other words, children have to earn the ability to watch their favorite videos on YouTube or play on their favorite websites or apps. By providing them with a path to timed access, it allows children to learn to self-regulate their time spent on sites like YouTube and more.
Overview of myLevelUP App:
- Learning app ideal for nonverbal children on the autism spectrum and more
- Teaches children how to read while building vocabulary and communication skills
- Parents or educators have the ability to add custom images, words, and audio clips, which then become the content of the learning games
- Educators or parents then set up a personalized learning playlist, consisting of a series of learning game activities
- After your child plays through their learning playlist, they earn time on their favorite websites or apps
- Each game is designed to build vocabulary and generalize language concepts by drawing on content from each particular child’s own life
- They can learn the names of places, people, objects, pets, and more in their life by adding to their own custom words list