The app is designed to assist the user in understanding the social world in which they live and to teach social skills in a fun and meaningful way.
The Social Skills for Autism app also tries to address the nuances in communication and social interaction by introducing the concepts of context sensitivity, social consequences and emotional recognition into social situations and moves away from the stock answer or standard response in specific social situations.
The app is designed to be fun and at the start of the app the user will meet Kloog, an Alien from another planet who has crash landed on earth and does not understand our social customs or social situations. The user will have to help Kloog understand our social rules and customs and go on a journey with Kloog through our social world and learn with him as he interacts with people to get parts and fuel for his ship so that he can return home. User understanding is tested throughout the programme. The app can be used independently or with the assistance of a parent, teacher, tutor or assistant depending on ability and existing levels of social skills.
The story -
meet kloog the alien
In a galaxy far, far away lies the planet of Zoogopholis. Kloog, one of its many inhabitants, lives a happy simple life, but dreams of visiting other galaxies and exploring other civilisations. While on one of his adventures, Kloog experiences engine trouble, and crash lands here on Earth.
To his surprise, the people on this planet are anything but normal. They insist on greetings, speak in riddles, and have strange rules around interaction. While Kloog thinks this is all too weird, he needs the people of Earth to help him to repair his ship and get back to Zoogopholis.
He soon realises that if he's to get home, he'll need to be social to achieve this!
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
The first Social Skills for Autism app covers the key areas of Conversation Skills, Non Verbal Communication and Thinking Before You Talk.
DECODING BODY LANGUAGE
STAYING ON TOPIC
CONCEPT OF HONESTY
FACT VERSUS OPINION
There are a series of fun quizzes built into the app to test concept comprehension and there is restricted progress through the app until the user reaches the required level of understanding. These "evaluations of understanding" are key in ensuring that progress is based on increased competencies in each area of the app. Progress is stored locally on the users device only.
UNDERSTANDING IS TESTED THROUGH 17 FUN QUIZZES
A NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAY TO TEACH SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPED BY THE SHINE CENTRE FOR AUTISM
LET'S DISCUSS SECTIONS THROUGH OUT THE APP TO CONFIRM UNDERSTANDING
A FUN AND INTERACTIVE WAY TO LEARN WITH A SOCIALLY CLUMSY ALIEN CALLED KLOOG
THE USER CAN UNLOCK FUNNY BONUS VIDEOS AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THE APP
THE APP CONTAINS 17 INDIVIDUAL LESSON PLANS
THE APP IS REWARD DRIVEN AND THE USER COLLECTS PARTS & FUEL TO HELP KLOOG TO RETURN HOME
OVER 350 INFORMATION SLIDES