2009 Tech in the Works Awardees

Congratulations to the 2009 NCTI Technology in the Works Awardees!

Exceptional teams of researchers and vendors have been selected to examine the impact of innovative assistive technologies for students with special needs. NCTI sponsors this annual competition to inform the development of learning and assistive technologies that can improve educational results for all students, particularly those with disabilities. Learn more about the competition. We are especially pleased to be able to welcome promising graduate students among the winning teams. Each $15,000 award requires matching funds and requires teams to conduct and report rapid research. This year’s winners represent a wide spectrum of research interests from spellcheckers for individuals with learning disabilities to web browsers for blind students.

2009 Awardees

Touching the Future with a Spark: How iPod Touches and Studywiz Spark Facilitate the Learning of At-Risk Students

Awarded to: Megan Whitmore, Graduate Student, University of Michigan-Dearborn (researcher); Susan Everett, Coordinator-Science Education and Assistant Professor, University of Michigan (researcher); and Robert Longo, Executive Vice President, Etech Group North America (vendor)

Project Description: This team will study the impact of individualized instruction delivered through the use of mobile technologies (e.g., iPod Touches, Studywiz Spark) on the achievement levels of fifth grade general education students and students with learning disabilities in the areas of reading and writing.

Developing Number Sense

Awarded to: Madalaine Pugliese, Author Stages Math: Number Sense software, Cambium Learning Technologies (vendor); Russell Maguire, Associate Professor, Simmons College (researcher) and
Karen Janowski, EdTech Solutions (researcher)

Project Description: This team will conduct a quasi-experimental research study that uses virtual manipulatives and cognitive strategies to demonstrate the best method of mathematics instruction for a group of students with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.

Look Mom, No Hands: The NIA as an Alternative Computer Interface

Awarded to: Andrew Junker, Founder, Brain Actuated Technologies (vendor); John Flach, Professor & Chair of Psychology, Wright State University (researcher)

Project Description: This team will conduct two cases studies and one experiment to evaluate and to improve Brainfingers, hands-free software that assists students who, due to motor limitations, are unable to use voice, a mouse, or a keyboard to navigate a computer.

Enabling More Effective Use of the Web  with WebAnywhere and TrailBlazer

Awarded to: Jeffrey P. Bigham, Assistant Professor, University of Rochester, Department of Computer Science (researcher); and Tessa Lau, Jeffrey Nichols, Jalal Mahmud, IBM Almaden Research Center (vendor)

Project Description: This team will study the target audience of the WebAnywhere non-visual web browser and opportunities for blind students to contribute to better access for all with the TrailBlazer browser extension.