2022 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 / data-driven learning / learner autonomy |
|---|
| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
With the help of collaborators from the National Institute of Technology, Matsue College, the software is near completion and ready to be used in a trial with university students. Significant progress has been made in the past year and we have been able to include nearly all the functionality that we proposed during the application process of this project. An initial version will be made publicly available at the beginning of June.
|
| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Programming of the software has accelerated quicker than anticipated due to several factors:
1) Students helping to program the software were able to write the code for the program efficiently.
2) The recent developments of new AI technology (OpenChat GPT) have made tasks, such as the development of sample sentences much quicker than previously possible.
3) The PI spent a significant amount of time learning to program in order to better oversee the project.
|
| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
As the software is near completion, the next phase of the research will be do conduct a pilot study with students at a university in Japan, who will use the software as an aid in learning English vocabulary.
Additionally, the PI has been accepted to three conferences taking place this academic year, where he will demonstrate the functionality of the program.
The final goal of the project will be to complete the production of cost-efficient eye-trackers, which will be able to monitor the reading speed of EFL learners.
|
| Causes of Carryover |
Due to the impact of COVID-19, as well as the researcher changing institutions after the acceptance of this grant, the project has taken longer than expected to reach completion. Therefore, a portion fo funds for travel costs as well as programming costs have yet to be utilized.
The remaining funds will be used to support travel costs to international and domestic conferences, as well as towards finishing the development of software. Development costs include equipment and wages for developers.
|
