[Pibe-division] FW: Be a part of the iBraille Challenge Pilot!

Thu May 14 14:23:19 UTC 2015

Be apart of something exciting and new! PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
We are seeking teachers, parents, and students to participate in a research study that investigates the development of a new Braille Challenge Mobile App (BCMA) for i-devices (ipads, ipad minis, iphones, and ipod touches) and braille displays. The BCMA will include reading assessment materials and activities that can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses in literacy skills, using the Common Core Standards (CCS). The project is part of a five year federally funded grant through the U. S. Department of Education.  We are currently seeking participants for phase 2 of project: the pilot stage (stage 3 will be a dissemination phase). During this pilot phase, we are seeking teachers, parents, and students who are willing to use the mobile app at home and at school. The research involves teachers giving students a grade level reading assessment that has been adapted into mobile app platform, followed by completing several reading activities that are designed to improve reading skills for children who read braille, monitoring their progress, and giving them a final post-test. The reading passages have been selected from current grade level materials and are typical of what a child would read in his or her reading and language arts program. The activities are based on research and employ the best evidence-based reading practices that we know of in the field of braille literacy.

The study will take a minimum of 8 weeks, but no longer than 16 weeks (minimum of 2 sessions per week), at no longer than 45 minutes per session. During each session teachers will give the student a reading test or have them participate in a reading game or activity that builds reading skills. Parents wishing to participate in a secondary study will be asked to have their child play with the BCMA once a week at home. As an incentive for full participation in the study students, parents, and their teachers will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad mini and refreshable braille display. WE ARE SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR FALL OF 2015.

There is minimal risk involved in participation such as stress, fatigue, or pressure to finish their schoolwork. Students will be informed that they may quit the session and/or quit the study without any penalties such as loss of service or lower grades. The work being completed is typical work being completed during reading and language arts, but has been adapted to be completed on an iPad using a refreshable braille display. Student performance data on reading assessments and activities will be retained in a secure and shared database between CSULA and Braille Institute. The data will not include any identifying information that will link the student's identity to the performance data. Students and teachers who participate will be given an identification number and data will not link be linked to their identity, thus protecting their confidentiality as a participant in the study and anonymity of responses.

Teachers, parents, and students who are interested in participating will be asked to sign a consent form and students will need to obtain parental (or legal guardian) permission. Please send the attached consent and assent forms home with the students who you think may be interested.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY, PLEASE CONTACT DR. CHERYL KAMEI-HANNAN AT cherylkamei at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylkamei at hotmail.com> or ckameih at calstatela.edu<mailto:ckameih at calstatela.edu> or call her at 323-343-6297. Thank you so much!

If you have any questions about this research at any time, please call Dr. Kamei-Hannan, Principal Investigator at 323-343-6297 or write her at cherylkamei at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylkamei at hotmail.com> or ckameih at calstatela.edu<mailto:ckameih at calstatela.edu> or 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, Ph.D.

California State University, Los Angeles

Charter College of Education

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH.  ADDITIONAL CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS, OR QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS AS A RESEARCH PARTICIPANT, SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH (Phone number: 323-343-3798).

Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator of the Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairment and Blindness
Division of Special Education and Counseling
Charter College of Education
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
323-343-6297
cherylkamei at Hotmail.com<mailto:cherylkamei at Hotmail.com> or ckameih at calstatela.edu<mailto:ckameih at calstatela.edu>

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