Supporting Music Literacy for Students With Special Needs in the Elementary General Music Classroom: A Design Case of a Digital Tool

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 2:30 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Tools of Design and Technology (Table 4)

Abstract

This design case describes the development of SpectrumPlay, a digital tool created to support learning and instruction of elementary music literacy and composition in inclusive classrooms. The learning supports embedded in the tool enable students with visual processing difficulties learn to read music notation and play faster and more efficiently. Informed by Universal Design for Learning and created in response to the needs of students, SpectrumPlay evolved from a paper prototype that supported independent learning to a digital iteration that can adapt to individual learner needs. In this design case, design judgments and prototype iterations provide precedent to the learning technologies design community for transforming an inclusive instructional design strategy into a digital tool with broad transformational reach.

Authors

• Erin E Collins, Cobb County School District

• Tiffany Anne Roman, Kennesaw State University