This study was to develop a computerised test with an adapted peripheral to assess the emerging literacy knowledge of children with mobility difficulties. The software was implemented using a game-like design controllable by a peripheral device without needing fine movements.
Conventional tests for assessing the early reading skills of preschool children on school entry are not accessible to children with mobility limitations. This paper presents a game-like computerised test featuring an appealing scenario that is accessible to these children. It was developed on a platform that creates 2D vector graphics and contains three phases of interactive content accessible through an adapted peripheral. Conventional tests were also used to validate the effectiveness of the game. The two types of tests had the same degree of predictive power when completed by thirty three preschool children without mobility impairment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
The children performed the synthetic test with no time restriction.
The children performed the computerised test with no time restriction.
Reading skills
The tests determine whether children can differentiate between the letters of the alphabet and squiggles, numbers, and mathematical signs (first phase); can realise that the same word can be written using uppercase, lowercase, and cursive letters (second phase); know the correct number of letters required to graphically represent the sounds used in speech (third phase). The numbers of incorrect choices made by children during the three phases of the computerised test (G1, G2 and G3) and the synthetic test (G1 and G2) are quantified.
Time frame: 2 days
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