Creating instructional technology materials (ITeMs) to teach students with intellectual disabilities functional skills

The purpose of this manuscript is to introduce the use of the 7Cs Strategy to provide guidance for special educators in creating instructional technology materials (ITeMs) to teach functional skills to students with intellectual disabilities (ID) using portable smart devices (PSDs). We depicted a current picture of using PSDs at school to point out a need of the guidance. A conceptual framework of the effects of using PSDs was established and discussed based on the literature. This manuscript then explained and showed special educators how to apply this strategy to create ITeMs to teach their students with ID functional skills. Two case studies illustrated to help special educators understand how to apply this strategy. In addition, some useful apps for creating ITeMs with PSDs were introduced.