2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Developing an Integrated Software Platform to Improve Reading Fluency and Comprehension
| Project/Area Number |
20K13155
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Hiroshima University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
HIGA MARSHALL 広島大学, 外国語教育研究センター, 准教授 (50736923)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
|
| Keywords | eye-tracking / vocabulary acquisition / extensive reading / spaced repetition / AI |
|---|
| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This past year was oriented towards the programming of the software platform, which is the centerpiece of this project. Due to the PI of this project changing of job affiliation, some time was spent searching for research collaborators, who could assist in the programming development and implementation. Software development is currently underway. Additionally, a low-cost eye-tracking device is in development to support assessment.
Presentation:
Higa, M.K. (2021). Using Eye-tracking Equipment to Improve Test-taking Strategies of the TOEIC. JALT2021: Reflections and New Perspectives. Online. https://jalt.org/conference/jalt2021
|
| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
4: Progress in research has been delayed.
Reason
Initially, the plan for this study was to have developed a software program that could be piloted in the spring of this academic year. However, as the program is still in the development stages, this is not possible. The PI will aim to implement a pilot during the fall semester of this academic school year.
The reason for this delay is primarily because changing institutions made it difficult to find research collaborators, who could assist with the development of the software. A large amount of time was spent attempting to find research collaborators willing to collaborate on this project. Fortunately, research collaborators in both the PI’s present and previous institutions are currently collaborating on the project, along with research collaborators of the National Institute of Technology, Matsue College. This cooperation should dramatically increase the output of the project moving forward.
|
| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The plan for next year will be to pilot a preliminary version of the software as soon as possible. Additionally, there has been a lot of interest from researchers about the eye-tracking system created to analyze reading strategies. Therefore, a secondary aim for next year will be to disseminate the eye-tracking equipment developed in this project to various researchers in Japan so that the equipment and methodology could be verified in different contexts.
|
| Causes of Carryover |
Costs will be used to pay for web hosting, web development, equipment and travel. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, few resources have been used towards travel to conferences and research trips. However, now that it is easier to move, the amount not used previously will be used this year and the next.
Additionally, due the amount of labor that will be required to maintain a large vocabulary database, research assistants will be asked to assist in the maintenance of the project's vocabulary database and sample sentences.
|
