Digital educational games and simulations for socio -communicative skills
- Redazione ForAllWe
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
A practical guide to software and apps to facilitate interaction.
Introduction to digital educational games
The inclusion of digital tools in inclusive teaching today represents a fundamental resource for supporting students who require support from a special education teacher. In particular, digital educational games and software can become powerful allies for developing social and communication skills , if chosen and used wisely.
This guide was created with a clear objective: to offer teachers a structured collection of worksheets , dedicated to software and apps that foster interaction, cooperation and participation among peers , avoiding a passive or isolating use of technology.
It is not a commercial list, but a working tool for educational planning.
How to use this guide
Each card is designed for:
support the choice of the digital tool
clarify what it is for and when to use it
facilitate inclusion in the PEI and in educational planning
Key Principle: Technology is inclusive only when embedded in structured routines , with clear educational objectives.
Apps and software for social and communication skills
App for basic communication and social skills
Very good
Area of intervention
Communication, language, shared attention
Socio-communicative objectives
respect for the shift
understanding of deliveries
functional use of language
How to use
small group
guided rotation
verbalization of the activity
Recommended duration 10–15 minutes
Role of the support teacher
Linguistic mediation and observation of interactions
AutiSpark
Area of intervention
Cognitive structuring and basic social skills
Socio-communicative objectives
space sharing
waiting for your turn
respect for the rules
How to use
initial individual use
subsequent placement of a peer
Recommended duration 5–10 minutes
Role of the support teacher
Structuring the environment and anticipating activities
Smart Tales
Area of intervention
Emotions, narrative language, social understanding
Socio-communicative objectives
recognize emotions
mutual listening
expression of opinions
How to use
shared vision
guided questions
connection with real experiences
Recommended duration 15–20 minutes
Role of the support teacher
Dialogue facilitation and guided reflection
Cooperative digital software and games
Minecraft: Education Edition
Area of intervention
Cooperation, problem solving, functional communication
Socio-communicative objectives
collaboration
negotiation
shared planning
How to use
groups of 2–4 students
assigned roles
common goal
Recommended duration 30 structured minutes
Role of the support teacher
Educational direction and observation of group dynamics
Kahoot!
Area of intervention
Participation, turn-taking, social motivation
Socio-communicative objectives
respect for the rules
waiting management
sharing the result
How to use
team mode
discussion of the answers
Recommended duration 10–15 minutes
Role of the support teacher
Emotional management and reduction of competitiveness
ClassDojo
Area of intervention
Prosocial behavior and self-regulation
Socio-communicative objectives
respect for the rules
emotional awareness
positive reinforcement
How to use
daily use with the class
immediate visual feedback
Role of the support teacher
Educational coherence and coordination with the teaching team
Software for social simulations and digital role-playing
Model Me Kids
Area of intervention
Practical social skills
Socio-communicative objectives
understanding social situations
adequate responses
generalization
How to use
video modeling
guided discussion
real role-playing
Recommended duration 15 minutes + practical activity
Social Express
Area of intervention
Complex social skills
Socio-communicative objectives
social problem solving
understanding the consequences
relational autonomy
How to use
structured path
progress monitoring
Recommended duration 20–30 minutes
Cross-functional tools for customization
Book Creator
Educational use
creating social stories
anticipation of situations
sharing with peers
Canva
Educational use
visual routines
illustrated social rules
communication support
How to choose the right tool
✔ Which social-communicative skill do I want to develop?
✔ Does it encourage real interaction?
✔ Reduces cognitive load?
✔ Is it transferable to everyday life?
Conclusion
Digital educational games and software are not an automatic solution, but powerful tools when integrated into an intentional design . When digital is at the service of relationships, it becomes a true facilitator of inclusion .
Links to the software and apps mentioned
Below you'll find the official websites of the software and apps mentioned in this guide, which provide a deeper understanding of their features, costs, available languages, and how to use them in an educational setting.
Excellent: https://otsimo.com
AutiSpark: https://www.autispark.com
Smart Tales: https://smarttales.app
Minecraft: Education Edition: https://education.minecraft.net
Kahoot!: https://kahoot.com
ClassDojo: https://www.classdojo.com
Model Me Kids: https://modelmekids.com
Social Express: https://www.socialexpress.com
Book Creator: https://bookcreator.com
Canva: https://www.canva.com
Do you want to make digital learning truly inclusive in your classroom?
Start by choosing one tool at a time, experiment with it intentionally, and observe how student participation changes.
Save this guide , share it with your education team, and continue following ForAllWe to discover resources, tools, and best practices dedicated to inclusion and accessibility in schools.
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