An IT-based self-checking system of spreadsheet exercises for learners with visual impairments

Isao Hiramatsu; Kousuke Mouri; Kay Penny; Bipin Indurkhya; Keiichi Kaneko

doi:10.1080/17483107.2023.2287155

An IT-based self-checking system of spreadsheet exercises for learners with visual impairments

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023 Nov 29:1-13. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2287155. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Isao Hiramatsu¹, Kousuke Mouri², Kay Penny³, Bipin Indurkhya⁴, Keiichi Kaneko⁵

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
² Faculty of Information Sciences, Hiroshima City University, Hiroshima, Japan.
³ Institute for Education, Community and Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁴ Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
⁵ Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 38018463
DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2287155

Abstract

Purpose: In vocational education and training of computer literacy as part of vocational rehabilitation, learners often work on problem-solving exercises as self-study assignments, and check if their answers are correct. Sighted learners can get information on their incorrect answers by comparing their answers with the correct answers. However, learners with visual impairments largely depend on their teachers for getting this feedback. To remove this dependence, we designed a self-checking system for learners with visual impairments to verify the correctness of their answers. In this paper, we report the results of a usability study to evaluate whether learners with visual impairments can self-check spreadsheet problem-solving exercises using our system in a teacherless environment.

Methods: Usability evaluation experiment was conducted using 2 × 2 crossover design with people with visual impairments (n = 11). The participants checked their answers (detected and corrected errors) after working on problem-solving exercises in two ways: (i) manually; and (ii) using our system. The system usability was evaluated by measuring Detection-And-Correction (DAC) ratio as effectiveness, time taken and the number of steps required for DAC as efficiency, and System Usability Scale score as satisfaction.

Results and conclusions: The results show that all the participants could complete the DAC task by using our system, and the time required for DAC task was significantly reduced by using our system as compared to by checking manually. Our system enables learners with visual impairments to self-check problem-solving exercises answers. However, to increase the user satisfaction, the number of required keystrokes needs to be decreased.

Keywords: Visually impaired people; learning support system; problem-solving exercises; self-education; spreadsheet software.

Plain language summary

Vocational rehabilitation for learners with visual impairments to improve their computer literacy is becoming increasingly important.Learners with visual impairments have the potential to acquire computer literacy in a teacherless environment by using simple assistive software like our self-checking system.Simple assistive software for learners with visual impairments like our self-checking system may have a positive effect not only on learners with visual impairments but also on sighted people.Moreover, our system reduces the teaching load of the teachers so that they can be more effective in helping learners with visual impairments.