How SLPs Can Maximize Digital Materials for Teletherapy

Maybe the thought of creating customized resources for your teletherapy sessions gives you all the creative feels. 

Orrrr maybe that thought makes you cringe, shudder, and run for the hills of Teachers Pay Teachers because, well... you don’t have the time for that kind of wheel reinvention nonsense.  

This blog post is Part 2 of a series about building a teletherapy toolbox you’ll use again and again. In Part 1, we discussed the qualities that make a digital activity worth buying for teletherapy. Now, let’s dig into the formatting and design features that make materials easier to use in virtual sessions.

FEATURES OF TELETHERAPY MATERIALS

Let me preface this post by saying that during my first few years as a teletherapist, I used plain old PDFs in virtual sessions. That's it. I was years away from learning about Boom Cards, interactive PDFs, and Google Slides activities. But I was still doing effective therapy.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a resource in telepractice that you already have, even if it has zero of the qualities listed below. In fact, I have written blog posts about adapting PDF materials in this way.

But the availability of teletherapy-friendly activities is night and day compared to where it used to be. So if you want to discover some key characteristics that make resources more suitable for teletherapy than others, read on!

Uses Landscape Orientation

Most teletherapy platforms have a shared workspace where you can open or screen-share activities. Like a computer or interactive whiteboard, that space is usually wider than it is tall. Therefore, pages, cards, or slides designed in a landscape format (such as this Google Slides language activity) tend to fill the screen better and feel easier for students to see and navigate.

In contrast, many printable worksheets are created in portrait orientation. While they can absolutely still be used, they may appear smaller on the screen or require extra scrolling and zooming.

When digital materials are built with the teletherapy environment in mind from the start, it saves time and makes sessions run more smoothly.

Limits Content on Each Slide

Teletherapy activities (such as this conversation activity) often include fewer prompts or questions per page, card, or slide. While older students may be able to attend to more information at once, keeping each screen simple is especially helpful for younger students.

Reducing visual clutter helps students:

• Stay focused on the current task

• Be able to easily see and read the content

• Know exactly where you want their attention

• Avoid feeling overwhelmed

And the best part? Since you aren’t printing anything, you don’t have to conserve paper. So you might as well make those pictures and text large and in charge.

Includes Colorful Images

One major perk of digital resources is the freedom to use vibrant photos, illustrations, and graphics. Color naturally draws students in and can make even simple tasks feel more game-like and motivating.

Incorporating colorful images (as in this following directions activity) is a great way to draw students in and keep them engaged. 

Of course, balance is key. Too many graphics or layered elements can make a slide feel busy or distracting, especially for students with vision or attention challenges. Prioritize readability and make sure the visuals support the task rather than compete with it.

Incorporates Digital Interaction

This is where teletherapy resources really shine.  I mean, just check out this articulation drawing activity! Activities that rely on folding, cutting, or gluing won’t translate well from in-person sessions to teletherapy. Instead, look for resources that allow students to actively participate on the screen.

The more students can manipulate or respond to the material, the more engaged they tend to be. Digital interaction might include:

• Using annotation tools to draw, write, or highlight

• Typing in built-in text boxes

• Dragging and dropping images or words

• Clicking buttons or checkboxes

Because I cannot resist a clear and concise comparison graphic to sum it all up:

There we have it! Next time you find yourself in need of a new teletherapy activity (AKA frantically searching the bottomless pit of resources on TpT for JUST the right thing), keep these considerations in mind. 

Whether you’re purchasing materials or creating them yourself, make sure your time is well spent. Choose activities that are teletherapy platform-friendly, visually clear, and designed for real virtual interaction, regardless of the goal area.

Want to keep refining your eye for what makes a digital resource truly effective for teletherapy practice? Get even more information on selecting digital speech therapy activities.

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