Assistive technology that enables educators to easily create and publish Moroccan Sign Language (MSL) supported educational materials for students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Project Name
Moroccan Sign Language Assistive Technology for Reading Improvement of Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Location Implemented
Morocco
Technology Used
Assistive Technology, Software/Apps
Competition Entered
Grant Competition 2014
Reading Skill Targeted
Foundational, Pre-Reading, Reading Environment
Status
Winner
Collaborators/Partners
École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Rabat
The Challenge
Education of children who are deaf/hard of hearing in Morocco is dire. Approximately 85% do not attend school, and many girls are kept at home. Most teachers who work with this population do not have any training in special education, and there is a dearth of sign language interpreters to assist them with translation for sign language-dependent students in the classrooms. Literacy rates among populations that are deaf/hard of hearing are very low.
The Big Idea
MSL Clip and Create enables users to access a dictionary containing Moroccan Sign Language (MSL) graphics, video clips, and supporting concept graphics to create and publish MSL-supported educational materials for students who are deaf/hard of hearing. The dictionary’s 3,000 MSL graphics and video clips represent 5,500 Modern Standard Arabic words with supporting concept graphics. This software revolutionizes the way teachers create MSL materials, increasing the amount, type, and quality of such materials.
Results
Eight schools for the deaf/hard of hearing, 60 students, 40 teachers 20 parents and other key national stakeholders with the potential for national and international expansion
Blogs and Media
Blog // September 2, 2022Transforming literacy learning spaces with EdTech to improve reading outcomes
- Blog // December 12, 2019
9 lessons for designing EdTech innovations for early grade literacy
Research and Resources
Institute for Disabilities Research and Training & École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Rabat Evaluation Report
An evaluation report on the results of the ACR GCD-funded "Improving Deaf Children's Reading Through Technology" project, implemented by IDRT in Morocco.Institute for Disabilities Research and Training & École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Rabat
ACR GCD-funded innovator Institute for Disabilities Research & Training shares their innovation to enable educators to create sign language materials for deaf students in Morocco.Institute for Disabilities Research and Training & École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Rabat Baseline Report
A baseline early grade reading assessment of students participating in the ACR GCD-funded "Improving Deaf Children's Reading Through Technology" project, implemented by IDRT in Morocco.
