Using Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives to Enhance Integration of Mobile Technology for Students with Communication Needs
Keywords:
mobile apps, children with communication needs, speech language pathologist, teacher, education, assistive technologyAbstract
Digital technology is increasing rapidly in educational environments for students. Teachers, special educators and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are adopting and using mobile applications creating a demand for robust apps that support evidence-based practice, and can be integrated flexibly into a variety of environments with diverse populations and their specific educational goals. SLPs are not only using mobile technology in practice, but contributing to the design of mobile applications (apps) by influencing the design of apps, and by designing apps themselves. This chapter explores how SLPs implement, design and develop effective speech therapy apps using perspectives from multiple stakeholders including teachers, students, clinicians, parents, technologists, and institutions. These insights and processes were gathered using 50 semi-structured interviews with SLPs, SLP app designers, and designers, which were transcribed, coded, and analyzed via template analysis and thematic analysis. From the data, teachers and key stakeholders will be able to generalize and apply the information to their classroom and students.