Smarty Ears

By: Cindy L. Meester MS,CCC/SLP

I use this app in the receptive only setting as a way to measure a child’s ability to identify objects and their functions. The app allows me to set how many items are shown on the screen, which makes it easy to set up for the different ability levels of my students. I can even adjust how similar the items are related in this level. The student completes the task and I have the data saved and emailed to me. I love that I can modify the receptive level and adjust at the student’s skills improve.

In the expressive setting I am able to see how well my students can explain functions. I use this setting to measure their expressive language skills, grammar, fluency and even carryover for articulation skills. I am able to mark their responses in 3 different modes: Missed it, Almost and Got it! and email the results to myself. I have even had some of my students rate themselves.

In the alternating receptive-expressive setting I have the best of both options! I can see how well they “get it” receptively and move directly to how well they can “explain it” expressively. If I have a student who couldn’t identify the function on the receptive screen I may choose to skip the expressive screen by touching the next button.  Once again the data is saved and I can email the results.

Options: Here are some other ways I have used this app

• Guess What Game- I turn the sound off on the iPad. We use the Expressive Level setting. The group decides on a category and in settings I turn off the other categories. Some groups have asked for a challenge and then we use all the categories. Each student takes the iPad and gives two clues for the picture on the screen before asking for guesses. The goal is to get the others to guess the item. If the item is guessed with only 2 clues they mark it Got it! If it takes 3-4 clues then they mark Almost and if it is not guessed it is marked as Missed it.

• Cold, Warm, Hot– In this game we use the Receptive Level setting.  The goal is to be able to explain how the items on the screen are related. The setting option allows you to see 2, 3 or 4 items per screen. The more items shown the harder it is to explain similarities.
  • To play an easier game we choose this in settings: Receptive more similar and two items per screen.
  • To play the most challenging we choose this in settings: Receptive less similar and four items per screen.
  • Each student takes a turn and tells how the items on the screen are similar. As a group we judge if their ideas were cold, warm or hot.
    • Cold: their explanation was not related or they could not think of a similarity
    • Warm: their explanation was close but maybe a stretch
    • Hot: their explanation was right on target