KiNEEt: application for learning and rehabilitation in special educational needs

In the 21st century, the landscape of education has changed dramatically due to the application of technology in teaching and learning. This is especially true for teaching children with special needs. Technology has made it possible for the special needs children to be actively involved in their learning. The use of interactive whiteboards in the Special Education Center Princesa Sofia presented a few challenges for both the teachers and the students, hence KiNEEt was developed to overcome these problems. KiNEEt is a system which has been developed with the major aim of improving physical and cognitive skills in students with special needs. The different activities in KiNEEt are configurable and the tutor can modify the settings according to the needs of the student. The activities are game-oriented to attract the students attention and motivate them to learn. KiNEEt is highly interactive and it will encourage the students to be active learners. Results showed that Microsoft Kinect is the most suitable platform for this device as the students will be able to use the computer while simultaneously improving their digital competence, cognitive and physical skills.