Conceptual design and development model of assistive courseware for young low vision learners (AC4LV)

The focus of this study relates to technology (hardware and software) that is purposely designed for people with disabilities (PWDs), which is called Assistive Technology (AT). Previous findings reveal that studies related to educational content in courseware is highly lacking, particularly for low vision learners. Also, many existing conceptual design models of courseware lack of specific requirements and empirical evidences to cater the needs of low vision learners. Preliminary studies have proven that available content applications fail to cater the needs of low vision learners in terms of information accessibility, navigationability, and pleasurability. Hence, this study proposes a conceptual design model of courseware for low vision learners, named as Assistive Courseware for Low Vision (AC4LV). Four (4) specific objectives are formulated. The Design Science Research Methodology has been adopted. Eight (8) components of Conceptual Design Model of AC4LV have been constructed and integrated: structural, content composition, AC4LV element, learning theories, learning approaches, development process, instructional design model, and technology. The proposed model has been reviewed by 12 experts and validated through prototyping. It was found that the proposed model has been well-accepted by local and international experts. Prototyping has implicated that the model is useful to follow by novice and non-technical developers. On top of that, the findings of user experience testing indicate that the AC4LV is able to fulfill the needs of the low vision learners in terms of information accessibility, navigationability, and pleasurability. All these findings demonstrate that the Conceptual Design Model of AC4LV exhibits useful development for content application as well as providing theoretical and practical contributions of the study.This study provides guidelines for developing educational content in courseware that caters the need of low vision learners so that this particular group of PWDs may gain equal opportunities of learning

The development of assistive courseware for young low vision learners based on multiple intelligence theory

This paper reports an ongoing study regarding the development of Assistive Courseware (AC) which specifically designed catering to the needs of low vision learners in learning activities. Previous literatures state that most of the available digital interactive learning content means too little to them, particularly in terms of content presentation. Therefore, this study solves the problem by developing an assistive courseware (AC), which is named as AC for Low Vision Learners (AC4LV). The AC was developed by utilizing Multiple Intelligence (MI) theory as guidance. In addition, three basic steps, which are pre-production, production, and post-production have been utilized in developing the AC. As a result, an AC4LV based on MI theory was successfully produced. Future works of this study is to test the experience of using AC4LV among the low vision learners in terms of it usefulness.Keywords: interaction design; child-computer interaction; assistive technology; low vision; multiple intelligence theor

Critical analysis in proposing a conceptual design model of assistive courseware for low vision (AC4LV) learners

This paper reports on an ongoing study, which intends to propose a conceptual design model of Assistive Courseware(AC) that is particularly designed for low vision learners (LV) learners.Altogether, 15 conceptual design models of courseware were compared and analyzed exhaustively with the main objectives (i) to determine the research gaps in proposing a conceptual design model of AC4LV and (ii) to identify their common components.Through a systematic and critical analysis, this study discovers that all of the previous models do not suggest any specific conceptual design model of courseware that caters the visually-impaired (VI) particularly low vision (LV) learners in detail.It is noted that this is the research gap that should be the focal point for further study.Also, the previous literatures suggest that Instructional Design (ID) model, learning theories, and learning approach must be the basic component in designing the conceptual design model of courseware

A comparative study of D2L's Performance with a purpose built E-learning user interface for visual- and hearing-Impaired students

An e-learning system in an academic setting is an efficient tool for all students especially for students with physical impairments. This thesis discusses an e-learning system through the design and development of an e-learning user interface for students with visual- and hearing- impairment. In this thesis the tools and features in the user interface required to make the learning process easy and effective for students with such disabilities have been presented. Further, an integration framework is proposed to integrate the new tools and features into the existing e-learning system Desire-To-Learn (D2L). The tools and features added to the user interface were tested by the selected participants with visually-and hearing- impaired students from Laurentian University’s population. Two questionnaires were filled out to assess the usability methods for both the D2L e-learning user interface at Laurentian University and the new e-learning user interface designed for students with visual and hearing impairment. After collecting and analyzing the data, the results from different usability factors such as effectiveness, ease of use, and accessibility showed that the participants were not completely satisfied with the existing D2L e-learning system, but were satisfied with the proposed new user interface. Based on the new interface, the results showed also that the tools and features proposed for students with visual and hearing impairment can be integrated into the existing D2L e-learning system.Master of Science (MSc) in Computational Science

Integrating multimedia learning theory in assistive courseware for low vision learners

This paper reports an ongoing study regarding the development of Assistive Courseware (AC) that is specifically designed to cater the needs of low vision learners in learning activities.Currently, as reported in the previous studies, low vision learners are facing various difficulties in their learning activities particularly in terms of information accessibility, navigationability, and pleasure. Previous literatures also state that, most of the available courseware means too little to them especially in terms of content presentation.Therefore, this study attempts to solve the problem by developing an AC which is named as AC for Low Vision Learners (AC4LV). The AC was developed by utilizing Multimedia Learning Theory as guidance. In addition, three basic steps, which are pre-production, production, and post-production have been utilized in developing the AC.As a result, an AC4LV based on Multimedia Learning Theory was successfully produced. Future works of this study is to test the experience of using AC4LV among the low vision learners particularly on primary school children from age nine to twelve

First cycle of user experience on assistive courseware for young low vision (AC4LV) learners

Reviews from literatures indicate that content application such as courseware which is specifically designed to cater the needs of low vision learners in learning is highly scarce. It was found that most of the existing content applications including courseware focus to the needs of normal student, in which most of this courseware mean too little to the low vision learners in terms of information accessibility, navigation-ability, and pleasure aspects. Having developed the intended courseware which is called as AC4LV it has to be tested to the targeted subjects.Thus, this study presents the first cycle of user experience testing related to the subjects’ behaviors and reactions on AC4LV in effort to make it as one of the effective learning tools specifically for low vision children. It is called as user experience I.In user experience I, 8 subjects with the average age nine to 12 were involved. At this stage, observation was utilized as the data collection method

Smart Cane: Assistive Cane for Visually-impaired People

This paper reports on a study that helps visually-impaired people to walk more confidently. The study hypothesizes that a smart cane that alerts visually-impaired people over obstacles in front could help them in walking with less accident. The aim of the paper is to address the development work of a cane that could communicate with the users through voice alert and vibration, which is named Smart Cane. T he development work involves coding and physical installation. A series of tests have been carried out on the smart cane and the results are discussed. This study found that the Smart Cane functions well as intended, in alerting users about the obstacles in frontComment: 6 page

Guidelines of Assistive Courseware (AC) for hearing impaired students

This paper defines the disabilities and technologies suitable for the disabled which is called assistive technology (AT).Two types of AT are hardware-based and software-based. In this paper, the software-based is focused, specifically in the form of courseware which is referred to as assistive courseware (AC). With concerns to develop an AC for hearing impaired people, proper characteristics should be followed.The aim of this paper is to initiate a study to propose characteristics for developing AC for hearing-impaired (HI) people.This paper starts with an introduction containing the problem statement, scope, and the objective of the paper, followed with reviews of related literature, and methodology utilized which are adapted from the waterfall methodology.The characteristics and the prototype is outlined next, followed with some observation results whish show that the characteristics can make the HI students learn with the AC happily. The final part concludes this paper

Technology for visually-impaired: identifying flaws in assistive courseware

Technologies for visual-impaired people have been widely developed, covering hardware and software. In terms of software, the technology is divided into infrastructure and content. Designing appropriate content technology is very important for the visually-impaired people to support their special constraints. Such content technology, which is called assistive courseware for visually-impaired (AC4VI) has to strategize appropriate elements for efficient information accessibility, navigationability, and pleasurability. This study develops such content technology, based on a systematically and scientifically developed model. Having developed the content technology, it was tested with the real subjects, children of Year 1 in visually-impaired curriculum. To accommodate the needs of the children, this study utilizes qualitative approach. Prior to running the actual testing, a pilot test has been conducted to ensure the actual testing could run smoothly. The initial round of the pilot test reveled that there were problems in terms of the feasibility of the prototype and data collection method. Therefore, to overcome the flaws, the second pilot test was carried out. The test was segmented into four section: (i) briefing, (ii) observation, (iii) interview, and (iv) closing. In the end, it was found that such content technology has to be experienced individually. Also, semi-structured interview has to be conducted individually. The AC4VI, as a content technology for visually-impaired is as important as the infrastructure