There’s An App for That - An Introduction To Using Apps to Target Spoken Language Skills

Aug 29, 2026

A webinar introduction to using mobile apps to target and reinforce spoken language skills for learners, presented by speech-language pathologists from the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The session outlines criteria for selecting effective apps, including versatility, interactivity, cost effectiveness, low distraction, realistic visuals, and controllable, customizable settings. It also discusses practical cautions around young children’s screen time and provides demonstrations and brief overviews of recommended apps and resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Today we will...

A Few Caveats

Our Criteria for Selecting Apps

My Play Home

Magnetic Alphabet

Webinars with E CFS brought to you by: The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing There’s An App for That: An Introduction To Using Apps to Target Spoken Language Skills November 25, 2013 1:00 pm EST 􀀶 Christa Cook, M.S. , CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist Nina Fistler, M.S. , CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist 􀀶 Today we will… 􀀶 Discuss what makes a good app for targeting and reinforcing speech and language skills . 􀀶 Demonstrate how to use 3 apps in a variety of ways to enhance speech and language . 􀀶 Provide a brief overview of 9 apps we recommend and use . 􀀶 Share a list of apps and other resources we use . So many apps…where do we start? 4 A Few Caveats… 􀀶 Screen time for young children • American Academy of Pediatrics states that screen time is not recommended for children under age 2. • Limit screen time for young children (1-2 hours a day total) 􀀶 Technology should be used as a learning tool, not as a replacement for human interaction-use wisely! 􀀶 Natural voice and conversation is preferable to recorded voices. • See resource list for link to MECDHH webinar on access to audio for technology Our Criteria for Selecting Apps: 􀀶 Versatile 􀀶 Easy to manipulate 􀀶 Cost Effective 􀀶 Limited or no ads 􀀶 Stimulating/motivating/interactive/fun! 􀀶 Visuals are realistic and/or true to life 􀀶 Controllable settings 􀀶 Customizable and/or personalizable 􀀶 Limited or no background noise My Play Home 􀀶 My Play Home Lite is FREE 􀀶 Full version cost: $3.99 􀀶 No ads or in-app purchases 􀀶 Versatile 􀀶 Easy to for children to manipulate 􀀶 Extremely stimulating/motivating for kids! 􀀶 Visuals are cartoon, but not unrealistic 􀀶 Variety of choices/vocabulary is astounding 􀀶 Some background noise, but it can be turned off My Play Home 􀀶 Things I have targeted using this app: 􀀶 Vocabulary 􀀶 Verbs and Verb tenses (past tense, present progressive tense, future tense) 􀀶 Regular (-s, -es) and irregular plurals (children, feet) 􀀶 Following directions 􀀶 Articulation and multisyllabic words 􀀶 Basic concepts and prepositions Magnetic Alphabet 􀀶 Magnetic Alphabet Lite is available with limited sets of magnets 􀀶 Full version cost: $1.99 (Worth it) 􀀶 In-app purchases $.99 for theme sets 􀀶 Versatile 􀀶 Very easy for kids to use 􀀶 Motivating and Fun for kids 􀀶 Customizable-magnets presented in categories/units: can be purchased to match your theme 􀀶 Magnets make a slight noise, but simply put your iPad on mute if its distracting Magnetic Alphabet 􀀶 Things I have targeted using this app: 􀀶 Vocabulary 􀀶 Basic concepts and prepositions 􀀶 Following Directions 􀀶 Sentence combination (using ‘and’, etc.) 􀀶 Plurals 􀀶 Verb tenses 􀀶 Shapes, numbers, colors 􀀶 Describing 􀀶 Asking/answering questions

FAQs

What are the main criteria for selecting apps to target speech and language skills?

The webinar lists criteria such as versatility, ease of manipulation, cost effectiveness, limited or no ads, interactive fun, realistic visuals, controllable settings, customization, and limited or no background noise.

What cautions does the webinar give about using apps with young children?

It emphasizes limiting screen time for children under age 2, keeping total screen time to about 1–2 hours per day for ages 1–2, and using technology as a learning tool rather than a replacement for human interaction.

How can apps support different language goals in therapy?

Examples include vocabulary, verbs and verb tenses, plurals, following directions, articulation, prepositions, sentence combination, and question answering, demonstrated through featured apps like My Play Home and Magnetic Alphabet.

Aug 29, 2026

Upload by William