Web Based Multimedia/Animation

Virtual reality world teaches deaf children math skills

http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2006/060724.Villani.dentedcan.html

A couple of Purdue University professors are developing a highly interactive multimedia learning tool to improve the mathematical abilities of deaf children. The reason for the project is that, for deaf children, reading instruction is delayed; therefore most kids in this age group cannot use traditional textbooks. They also aren’t able to gain advantages through learning opportunities that non-disabled kids have, such as television and dinner table conversation, and their parents may not be fluent enough in sign language to teach them about math.
The interactive learning tool features an interactive PC game, in which 3D avatars communicate with the user in sign language. Even more effective, is extending the program into virtual reality, where the characters and the children can communicate with each other in sign language in real time, in a fully immersive environment.
I think this is a great tool for deaf children to learn math. The game features a variety of stores in which students learn a different math concept. For example, a candy store where they learn addition and subtraction. The pinch gloves which the student wears around their hands, allows them to count items and to add and subtract by putting candy on or off the counter. This can be repeated as many times as the student wants to and at their own pace while providing feedback. The avatar and the child can also communicate; for example, one of the avatars can ask a question and the child can sign a simple answer, such as a number, or the child can pick up a certain number of candies and the avatar can make the sign for that number.
Such a system is an effective teaching tool because it gives the students control over the environment, offers self-paced and repetitive learning, presents concepts in a concrete rather than abstract manner, features an environment that feels safe, and, as a game, is motivational. It also strikes an interest in the students. They are able to create their own characters and make them do whatever they like. All of these characteristics help the student overcome challenges that are common to people with learning disabilities.
I think the PC game is a great.The only problem I see with the virtual reality game is that it is very expensive and since it must be used in a special room, it is impractical for both schools and individuals. For further research, I think the researchers would have to come up with a different option for a portable yet still immersive system. I would also like to research how effective this type of interactive multimedia is with deaf students and for what age.