SEVEN Ways to Use Amazon Alexa to Increase Speech and Language Skills

Welcome to the 2018/19 school year, friends!  Whether you're a teacher, SLP, OT, PT or parent, I think you will enjoy this post about seven ways you can use your Amazon Alexa to increase communication skills.  In this day and age, it is challenging to find that healthy balance with electronics, so I thought I would research some "games" and educational activities that Alexa has to offer because if you can't beat 'em, then join 'em.  I am including commands to launch the activity, general description of each task from the Amazon Alexa site, and my own feedback. If you decide to play these games, then you will need to 'enable' each one either in your Alexa app or online at the Amazon site. 

Tricky Genie

Get things started with one of these commands:

"Alexa, start tricky genie" 
"Alexa, launch tricky genie"
"Alexa, ask tricky genie for a story"

General Description from Amazon:  

Think you can outsmart the tricky genie? Try this game that’s suitable for all ages. Alexa will tell you a quick story about one or more characters that get themselves into a difficult predicament. The tricky genie will appear holding three sacks. One sack contains the very best solution to the problem. The genie will only give you two chances to pick the sack with the best solution. But the genie may try to trick you into being satisfied with a solution that isn't the best one. After each game, you can choose to have Alexa ask you two questions about the story to train your listening comprehension skills.  This game is brought to you by the team at Tellables. Visit us at Tellables.com to learn about our other skills and to get updates on Tricky Genie.

Feedback:  

I really liked this activity that addresses both problem solving and answering yes/no comprehension questions about a short story.  It would be a good idea to have your child write down some key points while listening to the short story to increase detail recall, especially when answering the two comprehension questions.  Alexa will also ask you if you want to hear the story again, which may be a good time to work on that outline.  In my opinion, this activity is appropriate for upper elementary through middle-school aged clients.  

Heads up

Get things started with one of these commands:

"Alexa open Heads Up! and play Superstars"

"Alexa play Heads Up!"

"Alexa start Heads Up!"

General Description from Amazon: 

“Heads Up!” has arrived on Amazon Alexa! For the first time ever, you can play “Heads Up!” on your own with Alexa, or gather your friends and see who can guess correctly from Alexa's clues!  Pick a category and Alexa will provide up to three fun facts and clues for each card — See how many you can get right in 90 seconds!  Decks include: Superstars, Blockbuster Movies, Animals Gone Wild, and Favorite Fictional Characters.  Please note that this activity is rated as "Guidance Suggested".  

Feedback:

If you enjoy playing this game on your phone, then you will like this version as well.  Chimes indicate if you got the answer correct/incorrect and a total score is reported when time is up.  I like that there are just a few categories to choose as this reduces time spent trying to select a group.  Having said that, you can purchase more groups for a small fee.  This game would be a fun way to work on increasing vocabulary, naming items in a category, and recall.  

Would you Rather Family

Get things started with one of these commands:

"Alexa, Play Would You Rather"

"Start Would You Rather"

"Open Would You Rather"

General Description from Amazon:

Would You Rather for Family is a simple but addicting game where you make a choice between two lighthearted and silly situations. Will the rest of the world agree with your decision? You have to try the skill to find out!  Enjoy hundreds of fun, family-friendly questions to keep all ages entertained for hours.  Would You Rather is now available in multi-player mode. You can enjoy it with your entire family or play by yourself.  Play Would You Rather at a sleepover, at a party, on family game night or simply to pass time. Questions are continually added so check back often for updates. Enjoy the game, and I look forward to hearing your suggestions about how it could be improved!

Feedback:

As with Heads Up, there are just a few, theme choices: Standard, Disney, or Harry Potter.  Again, the fewer the choices, the faster you can make a decision on which one to play.  I tried the Standard and Harry Potter editions and especially enjoyed the Harry Potter one, because the feedback stays on topic with Potter language.  After each answer, Alexa will tell you what percentage answered in the same manner.  The only downfall is that you do not get time to explain why you made your selection.  I figured that you could play a couple rounds, write down responses, and then discuss these later. 

Animal Game 

Get things started with one of these commands:

"Alexa, start Animal Game"

"Alexa, play Animal Game"

General Description from Amazon:

Test Alexa’s animal knowledge by having her guess an animal of your choice. Alexa will ask you questions to figure out your chosen animal, so make sure you’re familiar with the basics! What color is it? Can it fly? Does it live in hot climates? Your answers to these questions will help Alexa narrow down the animal possibilities and make the best guess. Will you be able to stump Alexa, or will she be victorious in the end? Alexa knows over three hundred animals and can also tell you some interesting facts about them. Did you know that rats laugh when they are tickled? And that no polar bear has ever met a penguin?

Feedback:

I will readily admit that I was wildly entertained when Alexa guessed the animals that I selected!  This activity is a great way to work on descriptive skills and all you need to do is answer Alexa's yes/no questions.  Feel free to have her repeat a question or ask someone for help if you're not sure how to respond.  After you play a round, you could turn this into a table task by drawing a graphic organizer and recalling the details about your animal.  

Guess my Name

Get things started with one of these commands:

"Alexa, open Guess My Name."

"Alexa, ask Guess My Name to play countries."

"Alexa, ask Guess My Name about the Summer Discount Bundle."

General Description from Amazon:

Laptops down and phones away for this guessing game you can play all day! Fun for one, or for all the family. You'll hear a series of clues, in your chosen category. Your job is to guess, whom you think it may be, but you'll have to be quick, if you want to score highly.  Shout out your answer, if you think you know. For example you'd say: "Alexa you're Marilyn Monroe!"  For feedback, comments or suggestions, email studio@opearlo.com, and we'll answer your questions!  Free categories include:  Countries (NEW), Animals, Historical Figures, Famous Actors, Animated Characters, and Random.

Feedback:

This game can be a bit challenging, so I would recommend playing it with middle to high-school aged children.  You are given an option to select the number of players in the game.  Since I was a solo player, Alexa matched me to someone else in the United States.  While you are given an option to activate your name, I decided to protect my privacy.  Each game consists of five rounds with point values decreasing after each additional clue.  Answer quickly and achieve the highest number of points: five.  At the end, you will hear a point tally and winner announcement.  I liked that this game can be competitive even if you are playing on your own. However, this game may not be suitable for clients with moderate to severe language processing challenges as you are not given much time to respond.  

Magoosh Vocabulary Builder

Get things started with one of these commands:

"Alexa, Start Vocabulary Builder"

"Alexa, Launch Vocabulary Builder"

"Alexa, Open Vocabulary Builder"

General Description from Amazon:

All the words in this skill have been handpicked by experts who prepare students for the GRE, GMAT, SAT and ACT. You will start at the apprentice level and progress to becoming a vocabulary master. 

Feedback:

This activity is suitable for students preparing for placement assessments.  You are told a word and then asked to select a synonym given three answer choices.  There are only five words total in a daily round.  I liked this game for my own son who is in 7th grade and practices daily brain teasers with my husband.  The incentives to advance to higher levels following a designated number of correct answers make it fun and encouraging.  

The Magic Door

Get things started with this command:

"Alexa, open the magic door"

General Description from Amazon:

The Magic Door is an Alexa-powered interactive adventure game with original stories. You can tell Alexa what choices to make as you explore a magical land with various regions, including a forest, sea, garden and castle. You will collect hidden items, solve riddles, and help magical creatures.

By choosing the current adventures in the following order, you can be sure to explore the entire land beyond The Magic Door:

1. Take the Garden Path in the Mountains to help the Princess find her crown.
2. Talk to the Rabbit in the Garden and find his eggs hidden beyond the Gate.
3. Take the Forest Path in the Mountains to help the Gnome find the key to his home.
4. Take the boat across the Sea to the Tropical Island to help a family of monkeys.
5. Follow the fiddle along the Sea to a fortune teller who will direct you to a Haunted Lighthouse.
6. Travel up the Bluff along the Sea to gather items for the Gnome with the Flute.
7. Explore various lands to gather potion ingredients to grow a Fern to the Clouds.
8. Travel to the Dark Forest and search the Witch’s Mansion for the Wise Wizard.
9. Journey past the Garden Gate to the Holiday Party in the Princess’ Castle.
10. Search for the Wizard in his Tower, repair his broken mirror, and collect his Wand.
11. Finally meet the Wise Wizard in the Ancient Temple and help him turn back time.

Visit us at facebook.com/AlexaMagicDoor for tips, tricks, and news.  Please note that this activity is rated as "Guidance Suggested".  

Feedback:

I included the adventures in detail so you could see all the possibilities for articulation carryover practice!  I spy blends, /r/, /l/, /s/, and /z/ to name a few.  This would be a fun way to work on generalization of articulation skills at the conversation level because you can pause the game and talk about the reasoning behind choosing a particular path.  This game would also be a fun way for upper elementary-aged students to work on expanding story telling/ narrative skills.  Again, pause the game to talk about other things you may see in the mystical land while modeling descriptive vocabulary for students.