Special needs students are facing heightened academic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be potentially supported through an engineered product solution. Through interviews with special education teachers and research about this demographic, online and hybrid learning has emphasized four major needs in special education: maximizing students’ focus, engagement, and physical stimulation while learning in front of a screen.

The design project includes three different but complementary product solutions: a portable desk, accountability band and a modular desktop learning environment. 

The portable child’s desk design collapses upon itself to allow easy transportation in a hybrid-learning environment, and includes an adjustable leg design to allow the student to move from sitting to standing position.

The accountability band design reminds students to complete their tasks and stay focused. A smartphone app and web interface will connect to the watch to allow teachers to assign tasks and keep track of their performance. The parents and students will also have their own interface that will allow them to see progress and performance trends.

The modular desktop learning environment comprises two components: the learning environment walls and the educational block game. The learning environment blocks out surrounding distractions with an adjustable curtain and shade system, establishing a separate space for students to remain focused. The block game allows students to build blocks together in a socially-distant or remote-learning environment with a ‘walkie-talkie’-like system. A ‘smart blocks’ system that informs the user where other students’ blocks are on the gameboard will help create interactive games and foster interaction. The game includes several educational games that aid with individualized learning, and also includes collaborative games that promote both teamwork and social skills for the children.

The implementation of all three product designs will provide the tools for special needs children to excel in both remote and in-person learning methods.