Conversation Coach
Conversation Coach by Silver Lining Multimedia, Inc teaches the user to understand the natural back and forth flow of conversations. Most communication devices typically only allow for one-way conversations, Conversation Coach fixes that. Conversation Coach comes in a full version for $79.99 and a limited use lite version for $1.99.
Conversation Coach is set up up into three distinct areas:
Talk to a Friend
Make a Statement
Talk to the Computer
Throughout these three user areas the main objectives targeted will be:
Learning to Take Turns
Staying on Topic
Asking Questions
Listening To The Other Player
Expressing Thoughts and Feelings
Organizing Thoughts
Talk to A Friend
This mode is similar to Mobile Education Store’s Conversation builder. What’s different is you are able to choose from preloaded conversations or create your own. You can load your own pictures or choose from the picture library that comes with the app. To “talk to a friend” you will most likely sit across from one another and with the iPad positioned in between. The app is oriented so players on both side of the device are able to read the messages. Here is an example of a simple conversation:
“What do you want to do?”
A coaching theme is used to ‘coach’ the conversation. A player selects the appropriate response and then passes the ball to the other player. A quiet symbol, a charter making the ‘shh’, sign prompts the other player to stay quiet while it’s not their turn to talk. These prompts can be turned off in the settings once the players understand the rules or simply do not need prompting any longer. You can choose what the background looks like as well as you will see later on in the post.
Conversations can be customized for each student’s needs. You can also select which conversations are available for a particular student.
Talk to the Computer
This mode allows a player to practice 2 way conversations against the computer. This mode works pretty much the same as Talking to Friend does but the computer randomly selects questions to ask, then the player is presented with appropriate response choices. You can also choose the ‘conversation’ for your student/client. This mode is nice for teaching children with autism to script appropriate conversations. You can also use this mode for quizzes. Here is an example of a quiz.
Make a Statement
This mode is similar to using a communication device. Players are able make requests and comments. Statements can be any combination of text and pictures. Submenus can be programmed to appear after a player makes a selection. In this section you have a lot of variety you can choose from. You are able to use it somewhat like a traditional AAC device using category based menus, you can use it to make visual schedules, and participate in scripted conversations with your conversation partner or “coach”! Here are some examples :