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  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 8
    Citation - Scopus: 9
    Usability Study of a Smart Toy on Students With Intellectual Disabilities
    (Elsevier, 2018) Ekin, Cansu Cigdem; Cagiltay, Kursat; Karasu, Necdet
    This paper introduces a smart toy (SmartAnimals) which provides a mixed reality environment for children with intellectual disabilities. SmartAnimals includes a virtual space including computer based animations, sounds and characters, and a real space including plastic toys, and a receiver panel. SmartAnimals with a flexible context leads children to learn daily life concepts easily. To test usability of SmartAnimals, an empirical study was carried out with 6 children having intellectual disability (ID) and four special education teachers. The findings indicated that smart toys could be beneficial for children with ID especially who have limited concentration. It enables children with easy and fast learning. Smart toys also affect children's performance in a positive way while learning cognitive concepts.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 10
    Citation - Scopus: 19
    Effectiveness of Smart Toy Applications in Teaching Children With Intellectual Disability
    (Elsevier, 2018) Ekin, Cansu C.; Cagiltay, Kursat; Karasu, Necdet
    Play is an important element in a child's social and intellectual development and toys are indispensable play tools. This study investigates the effectiveness of smart toys in teaching social studies concepts to children with intellectual disability (ID). A single-subject design is used to identify such effects on teaching social studies concepts to children with ID with the help of smart toys developed within this study. The smart toys are also developed within the scope of present work. Three special education teachers and three children with moderate ID participated in the study, which was carried out in two schools in Turkey. According to the results, smart toys have a positive effect in teaching social studies concepts to children with moderate ID which is significant in development of academic and social skills for individuals with ID.