Sensory Integration Activities
Pre- Academic Computer Lab is created to enhance and provide our students who are Pre-K through 1st Grade level access to technology to explore their interests, as well as enhance sensory integration in the classroom. This month we are working with Touch Screen Kidz devices to introduce our students to sensory integration activities. Sensory integration refers to how people use the information provided by all the sensations coming from within the body and from the external environment. (definition from FamilyEducation: http://school.familyeducation.com/sensory-integration/parenting/56288.html#ixzz3S0IrSf00)
Sensory Integration in our Pre-Academic Computer Lab is giving our students a chance to use smooth surface touchscreen education devices. These devices help the student learn using a soft touch approach to activate their keypad. It is a new experience for our Pre-Academic students to realize that just by touching you can hear the device talk to you, pick something to do, change your choices. For students new to computers it is a great alternative to engage them with technology without being overwhelmed. Simple activities to peak their interests and help them transition to using a keyboard when on a computer. It allows them to learn the amount of pressure to apply and also waiting to hear response to commands on what to do next in a specific activity. Much of our computer programs are about listening for directions to proceed to the next step. The students have to listen to audio instruction and prompts and touch the screen in a timely manner to engage in the specific activity. While other classes use worksheets, in the Lab we are wanting to introduce simple, easy to use, with colorful graphics, and audio, devices to encourage use of technology.
For those just beginning I am going through the entire board so the student is familiar with it whether it is letters, numbers, colors, sounds, and musical instruments. Students will use the sensory integration activities to identify these items as they pop up on the screen.
Rob who is part of a self-contained classroom comes to the lab and works on a device that has instruments, Rob’s favorite is the drums.
Catherine is just now learning to work on a touch screen device and loves to hear the musical sounds when she gets an answer correct on a sensory integration activity. It is very rewarding for her to hear the chime when she gets it correct.
Sophia also works on a touch screen that has multiple options.
written by Kusum N.
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