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Tablets for two: how dual tablets can facilitate other-awareness and communication in learning disabled children with autism

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posted on 2023-06-09, 04:10 authored by Samantha HoltSamantha Holt, Nicola YuillNicola Yuill
Learning-disabled children with autism (LDA) are impaired in other-awareness, joint attention and imitation, with a poor prognosis for developing language competence. However, better joint attention and imitation skills are predictors of increased language ability. Our study demonstrates that a collaborative activity delivered on a novel dual-tablet configuration (two wifi-linked tablets) facilitates active other-awareness, incorporating imitation and communicative behaviour, in 8 LDA boys with limited or no language, aged 5 - 12 years. LDA children did a picture-sequencing activity using single and linked dual tablets, partnered by an adult or by an LDA peer. Overall, the dual-tablet configuration generated significantly more active other-awareness than children sharing a single tablet. Active other-awareness was observed in LDA peer partnerships using dual tablets, behaviour absent when peer partnerships shared a single tablet. Dual tablets facilitated more communicative behaviour in adult-child partnerships than single tablets. Hence, supporting collaborative activities in LDA children can facilitate other-awareness and communicative behaviour and adult and peer partnerships make different, but essential contributions to social-cognitive development through the collaborative process.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction

ISSN

2212-8689

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

11

Page range

72-82

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Developmental and Clinical Psychology Research Group Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-11-24

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-11-18

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-11-24

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