SignText: a web-based tool for providing accessible text book contents for Deaf learners

Area of Science:

• Education Technology
• Deaf Education
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Deaf students face challenges in accessing educational content due to a lack of sign language-based learning tools.
• Technology offers innovative solutions for learning, with potential to augment traditional textbook content.
• Integrating sign language with digital learning materials can substantially improve knowledge acquisition for deaf learners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate SignText, a novel bilingual web-based tool designed to support textbook learning for deaf students.
• To assess the effectiveness of integrating simultaneous sign language and text-based instructions in an educational context.
• To determine the impact of SignText on the learning experience and outcomes of deaf students.

Main Methods:

• Development of SignText, a web-based application delivering sign language and text instructions.
• An experimental study involving 34 deaf students to evaluate the tool's effectiveness.
• Utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather comprehensive data on user experience and learning outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study demonstrated that SignText significantly improves the learning process for deaf students.
• Participants showed positive engagement and comprehension when using the bilingual learning tool.
• Both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback indicated a favorable impact on knowledge acquisition.

Conclusions:

• SignText is an effective tool for enhancing the education of deaf students by providing accessible, bilingual learning resources.
• The integration of sign language and text in a web-based platform addresses a critical need in deaf education.
• This technology-based approach offers a scalable solution to improve learning outcomes and educational equity for deaf learners.