An IT-based self-checking system of spreadsheet exercises for learners with visual impairments.

Area of Science:

• Assistive Technology
• Computer Literacy Education
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Background:

• Learners with visual impairments face challenges in computer literacy training, particularly in self-checking exercise answers.
• Current methods require significant teacher assistance for feedback, hindering independent learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a self-checking system for learners with visual impairments.
• To assess the system's usability for spreadsheet problem-solving exercises in a teacherless environment.

Main Methods:

• A usability study with 11 participants with visual impairments was conducted using a 2x2 crossover design.
• Effectiveness (Detection-And-Correction ratio), efficiency (time, steps), and satisfaction (System Usability Scale) were measured.
• Participants compared manual checking against the developed system.

Main Results:

• All participants successfully used the system to complete the Detection-And-Correction task.
• The system significantly reduced the time required for answer checking compared to manual methods.
• While effective, user satisfaction can be improved by reducing the number of required keystrokes.

Conclusions:

• The developed system empowers learners with visual impairments to independently verify their answers in spreadsheet exercises.
• Further system refinement is recommended to optimize user experience and satisfaction.
• This technology has the potential to enhance vocational rehabilitation and computer literacy training accessibility.