Project Activities
The research team will use an iterative process to develop and refine CopyCat over the three-year project period. Approximately 30 deaf children ages 6-11 will participate. During the first two years of the study, the research team will use an iterative design to expand and refine the gesture recognition technology called the American Sign Language recognizer. CopyCat requires the user to inform the computer of where a particular object is in relation to the user-controlled character. Children can initiate the interaction with CopyCat or have a computer tutor assist them by demonstrating the appropriate signs. Corrective feedback is provided for wrong responses. The computer game progressively increases the difficulty of the signing tasks. In the third year, the researchers will conduct an initial evaluation of the fully developed CopyCat to assess its potential for improving children's receptive and expressive language skills, language processing ability, and working memory.
Structured Abstract
Setting
Participating students will be from Georgia school districts.
Sample
Twenty students that are deaf, with hearing parents, between 6 and 11 years of age.
Intervention
The CopyCat interactive computer game provides language models that use gesture recognition technology to respond to children's signing. The game requires the user to inform the computer of where a particular object is in relation to the user-controlled character. Children can initiate the interaction with the game or have a computer tutor assist them by demonstrating the appropriate signs. Corrective feedback is provided for wrong responses. The computer game progressively increases the difficulty of the signing tasks. The program is designed to enhance expressive language, receptive language, working memory, and language processing skills.
Research design and methods
Three separate 3 X 2 (sentence length X sentence type) within-subject analysis of variance will be used to determine if there is significant growth in expressive language, receptive language, and working memory from pre-test to post-test. Improvements in overall language processing will be inferred by examining correct responses on sentence type.
Control condition
Each child serves as his or her own control and receives the standard classroom curriculum.
Key measures
The effects of CopyCat on the language skills of students that are deaf, 6-11 years of age, will be evaluated using non-commercial measures. Students will be assessed on receptive language, expressive language, working memory, and language processing skills using pre-test/post-test measures.
Data analytic strategy
The quantitative data analysis technique that will be used to evaluate improvements in language skills and working memory is a repeated measures analysis of variance.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
Products: The expected outcomes from this study are the fully developed CopyCat computer tutor and reports on the potential efficacy of CopyCat for improving language skills in students who are deaf with hearing parents.
Supplemental information
To address this need, researchers are developing and conducting an initial evaluation of an interactive educational game, CopyCat, that is designed to enhance the language skills of deaf and signing children of hearing parents. Using gesture recognition technology, the program will respond to children's signing and provide language models for children. The program is intended to supplement the regular curriculum in the classroom by providing additional language exposure and practice for improving language skills.
Purpose: A majority of deaf children of hearing parents remain significantly delayed in language development throughout their lives when compared to hearing children or deaf children of deaf parents. Due to these delays in language development, deaf children of hearing parents are at considerable risk for poor educational outcomes. The development and evaluation of effective interventions that will promote the development of language skills in deaf children of hearing parents are needed.
To address this need, researchers are developing and conducting an initial evaluation of an interactive educational game, CopyCat, that is designed to enhance the language skills of deaf and signing children of hearing parents. Using gesture recognition technology, the program will respond to children's signing and provide language models for children. The program is intended to supplement the regular curriculum in the classroom by providing additional language exposure and practice for improving language skills.
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
