Measuring Effectiveness of Mobile Application in Learning Basic Mathematical Concepts Using Sign Language

Komal Parvez, Muzafar Khan, Javed Iqbal, Muhammad Tahir, Ahmed Alghamdi, Mohammed Alqarni, Amer Awad Alzaidi and Nadeem Javaid
Additional contact information
Komal Parvez: Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Muzafar Khan: Department of Engineering, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Javed Iqbal: Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Muhammad Tahir: College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Alghamdi: College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Alqarni: College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
Amer Awad Alzaidi: College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
Nadeem Javaid: Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Technology plays an important role in our society, especially in the field of education. It is quite regrettable that people, particularly the deaf, still face a lot of challenges in acquiring an education. Their learning methods are different as compared to hearing people. They use Sign Language (SL) rather than natural language to communicate and learn. They are required to put a lot of effort into learning different concepts using conventional pedagogies. Therefore, there is a dire need for some assistive technology to improve their learn-ability and understandability. In the present study, 192 deaf participants aged 5–10 years were sampled from two special child institutes. The objective of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of a mobile interface through a developed mobile application for learning basic mathematical concepts using Pakistan Sign Language (PSL). The present study bridges the gap between the technology-based method and conventional teaching methods, which are used for teaching mathematical concepts using PSL. The participants were divided into two groups, that is, one group learned through conventional methods (flash cards and board) and the other group through the developed mobile application. The difference in the performance of both the groups was evaluated by conducting quizzes. The quiz results were analyzed by the Z-test and ANOVA. The findings revealed that the Experimental Group (EG) participants, who were instructed by our mobile application showed higher proficiency in the quizzes as compared to the Control Group (CG). EG participants performed better than CG by 12% in the quizzes. A gender based difference was also observed for the quiz scores. Male participants in category C (word problem learning) performed 2.7% better than females in the EG and 2.5% better in the CG. Moreover, a significant difference was also observed in the time taken by participants in both groups to complete the quizzes. CG participants took 20 min longer than EG participants to complete the quizzes. The results of the ANOVA showed that the quiz scores were directly affected by the mode of teaching used for participants in both groups.

Keywords: deaf; assistive technology; mathematical concepts; learning; Pakistan Sign Language (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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