iName it is an app by Smarty Ears that was originally designed for those with aphasia. However, this app can be used to help older students with language difficulties as well!
I don’t know about you but some of my older students ( even my 5th graders ) think they are just to cool for some of my apps *gasp*. Finding apps that can target their goals like describing, word finding, syntax, etc, and look ‘older’ can be a tall order. So I was thrilled when I saw iName It.
Before you get started I recommend watching their video tutorial. It answered all my questions and gave me a good overview of the app. You can watch it by tapping the Support tab on the home screen and then Video Tutorial. If you need a different language for your session just tap the Settings tab. You will be given the choice to have the apps text and audio prompts in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Adding students is a simple task too. Just type in their name and add in an avatar.
The app presents various rooms in a home ( bedroom, bathroom, garage, kitchen, and living room ) and corresponding items for students to name. Just click the room you want and it will open to a scene. Not all the items in the room are targets. If you tap the eye icon, the scene will change to gray and color. All the items that are in color are targets. There is also a row at the bottom of the screen with all the targeted items as well.
If you tap a targeted item it will become colored with the background in gray. You will also see a check mark and a profile. The check mark can be tapped if the student can correctly identify the item. If the student needs some cues and support tap the profile.
There are built in cues! The pencil will give the first few letters of the item. The book provides a definition that is read to the student. The rectangle gives a ‘complete the sentence’ type prompt. The speech bubble 🙂 gives the student a phonetic cue by saying the first sound in the items name, and finally the ABC button will show the items name on the screen. After you have gone through all cues you will have a red ‘ Missed’ option. That doesn’t come up until all cues have been used.
When your done with your session tap the Results tab on the home screen. This will give you the break down of the session. It will show you rooms targeted, overall accuracy, overall accuracy with cues, and the most successful cue used.
Final Thoughts
This app would be great for older students and those working on life skill type goals. It uses realistic images to present targets which is helpful since it keeps the background for students to use for context. This app could be used for:
– Word Finding
– Categorizing: Ask students what other object may fit with the targeted object.
– Describing: Students can describe any object in the room, not just targeted ones.
– Reasoning: Pose questions or situations to students that may happen in the given room. For example, ” If you are in the garage and your car doesn’t start, what can you do?”.
The only aspect that I would have liked changed is to have ‘Missed’ button pop up when the cues are brought up. That way if the goal is to complete the task with, say no more than two cues, you can mark the information quicker. That is just a me though. Otherwise, I think is a great app that has the flexibility to target not only older students but their various goals. You can add iName it to your iPad by visiting iTunes, its $14.99.
Or you can win a copy! Smarty Ears has generously given my a copy of iName it to give away to a lucky winner. Just enter the rafflecopter below. A winner will be chosen on Monday 🙂 Good Luck!
11 Responses
I would use it to increase semantic relationships for my word finding kids and would also use it with EET for my kids working on expressive language and vocabulary.
Great functional vocabulary app!
I would use this to target object identification, syntax, and articulation!
I would use it to work on vocabulary, sentence formulation and grammar.
I would use this app for working on vocabulary with my students. I think this would be a good app to use with the Expanding Expressions Toolkit.
I agree with the others who’ve already commented. This app is a great vocabulary tool but also one that could be used to expand expressive language. Thanks for the review.
I would use this with my students with cognitive impairments to work on functional vocabulary.
What a great giveaway! I’d love to use this with my adult client!
I would use this app with my autistic support and life skills kiddos to work on both expressive and receptive vocabulary.
I would use this with some of my Kiddos with autism in the outpatient setting. I think it would be good for some of the adults I work with too!
I could use it with both my students with autism and some of the adults I work with!