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Innovative Educational
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SmartStep Installation WriteOn Installation Teacher Survey Contact: Tony Scarlatos Lori Scarlatos Darlene Roces |
Stony Brook University is partnering with several Eastern Suffolk BOCES Model Schools districts to pilot 2 innovative educational software applications called SmartStep and WriteOn. This usability study will help the developers refine the software, add features, and improve the interface.
SmartStep is a multimedia application that helps K-5 students learn and practice basic math skills. Similar to hopscotch or jump rope, this application uses physical activity to reinforce basic math skills (like skip counting); while honing motor skills, pattern recognition, rhythm and coordination. The application has a teachers' interface that allows them to create accounts for their students, and generate unique math learning games. Student performance data is saved to a local database for subsequent assessment. The interface for the game is a dance pad adapted from the popular PlayStation video game console.
WriteOn is a handwriting recognition program that drills spelling and penmanship skills. The game ships with a complete 1st grade vocabulary in 16 lessons. Students are prompted by an audio cue to spell a word, which they can write on a graphics tablet or type on a keyboard. Student performance data is saved to disk for subsequent assessment. The application has a teacher's interface for creating new vocabulary lists and recording the teacher's voice giving audio cues. Both these applications were developed at the Computer Science Multimedia Lab at Stony Brook University, with support from a National Science Foundation (NSF) Combined Research Curriculum Development (CRCD) grant. |
