As a final project for Kent State University's course Youth Literature in the Digital Realm, we created a comprehensive list of apps created for the benefit of children with different learning needs. Each app has been evaluated and reviewed with the intent of presenting an honest and fair description to the intended user.
As librarians working with youth, we will often be challenged with the task of meeting the needs and interests of children with diverse learning abilities and needs.
Incorporating digital apps as a tool for literacy development offers a fun and alternative way to spark the interests of children in a variety of ways. According to Dr. Goad, "Apps can help diverse learners by gamifying their tasks, coaching them on social cues, prioritizing their time, strengthening their math skills, and sharpening their language abilities" (Goad, 2015).
The digital apps classified in our evaluations also support the needs of children with multiple disabilities including ADHD, speech and hearing impairment, autism or global developmental delays. Caregivers and educators can utilize the contents of our evaluations to recommend the best apps to suit the developmental needs and interests of youth. One of the greatest benefits of adopting the apps provided in our evaluations is that they are all mostly free for the user.
References
Goad, D. (2015, Oct. 19). Apps to support diverse learners in the classroom [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/apps-support-diverse-learners-classroom-chester-goad
All annotations and reviews were compiled by current Kent State University MLIS students Amanda Balla, Jason Brown, Elissa Peterson, Lanecia Smith, and Jill Todd.