Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org. These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers. Come back each week for a new review. If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.
Gravitarium (iPad Only, $0.99)
Reviewer Comments
Gravitarium is an app that can be used across the ages. By touching the iPad screen with one, two, three or more fingers, the user can create animated sparkles of light patterns. By dragging a finger or more across the screen, the particles continue to make patterns of light. Once the user has touched the screen soft, calming music is heard.
This app is great to use to increase attending behavior, develop purposeful reach and purposeful touch, understanding of cause and effect, fine motor skills and bi-lateral hand use. This can be a 'go to app' to help a student work on these skills. With its simple interface, visually attractive light patterns and calming music, this app is appealing to many students with multiple disabilities, their teachers and clinicians.
We have used this app with a number of children who have autism. Many were clearly drawn to the visual display on the screen when the app was demonstrated. With that, some started to use the app independently, while increasing attending behavior. Other students learned how to use the app with hand-over-hand assistance, working towards independent use. In one instance, Gravitarium had a calming effect when used one day with a small group of children.
Possible IEP Objectives:
Pokes at object with index finger
Increase finger isolation
Increase bi-lateral hand use
Increase attending behavior
Develop purposeful reach
Develop cause and effect
Develop drag and release
Develop/increase ability to imitate fine motor movement
Develop independent indoor activity
Develop exploration of app on iPad
Develop/increase interactive play with others
Mobile Devices
Embedded Skills
Independent Traits
Assistive Traits
Assistive/Independent
iTunes Categories
BridgingApps Categories
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