Award Data

In prior projects, including a 2015 ED/IES SBIR award, the team developed two immersive multiplayer virtual game environments. In Eco and Colony, middle school students collaboratively apply scientific practices within the virtual worlds to address challenges, such as the availability of resources and energy and maintaining clean water. With this Phase I funding, the team is developing a prototype ...

This project team will fully develop and test AlphaBear 2, a vocabulary learning game for grade 4 to 7 students. Vocabulary is a prerequisite for academic success, as it is linked to stronger performance across academic subjects and improved reading comprehension. It is more difficult for students to participate in educational activities without understanding the key vocabulary associated with tha ...

This project addresses the need for improved literacy of deaf and other special needs children and youth by producing DVD and online software, myASL Publisher. This software enables a teacher or parent to publish American Sign Language (ASL) instructional material with instantaneously translated sign (graphics)-supported text, ASL with voice-over video clips that will “play” the contents, and ...

This project optimizes haptic system design parameters and more thoroughly evaluates the impact of a vibratory haptic system for prosthetics. Objectives include: (1) building a hardware and software test bed for non-invasive voluntary control of a prosthetic hand with vibratory haptic feedback, (2) optimizing the tactor application, (3) assessing the effectiveness of tactor vibratory feedback on c ...

In prior research and development, the project team developed LiveSchool, an online platform to track student behavior. With this Phase I funding, the team will develop and test a prototype of an administrator dashboard. The dashboard will generate reports on individual student behavior patterns across classes and on the prevalence of behavioral issues across different teachers. The dashboard will ...

This project develops a nutrition program, MenuChoice©, for community-based group homes for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Adults with IDD experience poorer nutritional health and more nutrition-related secondary conditions than adults without disabilities. These conditions are preventable and modifiable through a safe, healthful diet, but multiple challenges precl ...

Purpose: American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual and gestural language that is distinct from English, has its own grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and no text representation. Despite the differences between the languages, students who use ASL are typically assessed with protocols for English-speaking students, as few exist specifically for students who use ASL. Not surprisingly, prior research shows ...