Teaching concepts with wearable technology: Learning internal body organs

Abstract

In this study, a wearable smart cloth was designed and developed for children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) to help them learn name and position of internal body organs. In this regard, five plush organs (heart, lungs, stomach, liver and intestines) that can interact with a smart cloth were designed. Additionally, an application that provides animated characters, feedback, visual cues, and sounds and also interacts with the smart cloth by controlling the sensors on the smart cloth were developed and utilized during the implementation. Participants of the study were four students from a private Special Education School in Turkey. As a research methodology, a single-subject research method was employed and the data were collected via field notes and video recordings. Results of the study showed that students with IDs can use smart cloth and it can help them to learn names and positions of internal body organs. Moreover, animated character can get their attention and students with IDs can complete instructions on their own.