Multimedia Mobile Learning Application Software for Non-Verbal Children with Autism

^{The main purpose of this study was to develop multimedia mobile learning application software to reinforce the communication skills of non-verbal children with autism. The descriptive-developmental method was used to determine the non-verbal children with autism in terms of their social, communication and behavioral characteristics, communication displays, identification of things by pointing, and manipulation of things. It also identified their general preferences at home and school setting such as foods to eat, hygiene products used, clothes to wear, toys to play with, people enjoyed being with, places to go, and the school materials that were served as the basis for the content development of the multimedia mobile learning application. In designing the multimedia mobile learning application software, the study made use of the combination of ADDIE and Rapid Prototype Instructional Design Model which was modified by the researcher into the following phases namely: Preparatory Phase, Design Phase, Development Phase which included digitization and prototyping, Review and Validation, Refinement, Implementation Phase, and Evaluation Phase. In the preparatory phase, the researcher gathered information to identify the non-verbal children with autism as the participants of the study. A review on literature and other related research in identifying and determining the criteria of the participants The criteria were adopted and modified in terms of social, communication, and behavioral characteristics, communication displays, medium used, identification of things by pointing and manipulation skills. It also determined the general preferences of the non-verbal children with autism in terms of their favorite food and drinks which includes breakfast, lunch/dinner, snacks, and fruit. The needed self-help skills were categorized into hygiene products and personal care, clothes they wear, toys to play with, people they recognized and enjoyed being with, places like to visit, and school materials they needed. In the design stage, there were several steps undertaken in developing the content of the multimedia mobile application software: preparation of the instructional plans based on the PECS principles as the teaching strategy and crafting the features of the mobile learning application software. The development phase includes the digitization of the material utilizing the rapid prototype model in collaboration with the Information Technology (IT) experts, utilizing the prototype model which shows the conduct of the development of the IT expert using the platform of devices with android version. The review and content validation was done to determine the suitability of the mobile learning app for the non-verbal children with autism. The experts’ suggestions and opinions were gathered and interpreted for the refinement of the multimedia mobile learning application software. The Implementation phase was the preliminary and post try-out of the output of the study to observe the behavior and screen gestures of these children when using the mobile learning app. The evaluation phase was done through the analyzed results from the try-out of the multimedia mobile learning application software.}