Use of Interactive Digital Blocks in the Design of Mandarin Phonetic Symbol-based Teaching Aids

Chien-Hsing Chou; Feng-Chih Hsu; Hui-Ju Chen

doi:10.6180/jase.201803_21(1).0016

Use of Interactive Digital Blocks in the Design of Mandarin Phonetic Symbol-based Teaching Aids

Chien-Hsing Chou This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.¹, Feng-Chih Hsu¹ and Hui-Ju Chen¹

¹Department of Electrical Engineering, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan 251, R.O.C.

Received: April 19, 2017
Accepted: October 4, 2017
Publication Date: March 1, 2018

Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.6180/jase.201803_21(1).0016

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a Mandarin phonetic symbol-based teaching aid that uses interactive digital blocks is developed. The teaching aid consists of five components: four interactive digital blocks (namely as iBlocks) and a computer for learning Mandarin phonetic symbols, called the Zhuyin Fuhao learning system. This teaching aid was designed by adopting the concept of tangible user interface (TUI). By assembling different combinations of iBlocks, children learn to recognize Mandarin phonetic symbols and their pronunciations. Each iBlock contains an embedded system responsible for I/O control and communication with the Zhuyin Fuhao learning system. The front of the iBlock is a touch screen, which displays a phonetic symbol.In addition, the sides of the iBlocks are equipped with button sensors. When iBlocks are put together, the Zhuyin Fuhao learning system examines the consonants, vowels, and tones on the iBlocks, then reads the pronunciation of the word and displays related vocabulary items and pictures. The proposed teaching aid not only interacts with children to attract their attention while the children learn phonetic symbols,but also provides children with visual, auditory, and tactile experiences.

Keywords: Tangible User Interface, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols, iBlock, Assembling Blocks, Zhuyin Fuhao Learning System

REFERENCES

[1] Fu, F.L.,Su, R.C.and Yu,S.C.,“EgameFlow:aScale to Measure Learners’Enjoyment of E-Learning Games,” Computers & Education, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 101112 (2009). doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2008.07.004
[2] Dale, E., Audiovisual Methods in Teaching, Hinsdale, IL: The Dryden Press (1969).
[3] Connolly, T. M., Boyle, E. A., MacArthur, E., Hainey, T. and Boyle, J. M., “A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Evidence on Computer Games and Serious Games,” Computers & Education, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 661686 (2012).
[4] Boyle, E., Connolly, T. M. and Hainey, T., “The Role of Psychology in Understanding the Impact of Computer Games,” Entertainment Computing, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 6974 (2011). doi: 10.1016/j.entcom.2010.12. 002
[5] Boyle, E. A., Hainey, T., Connolly, T. M., Gray, G., Earp, J., Ott, M., Lim, T., Ninaus, M., Ribeirof, C. and Pereiraf, J., “An Update to the Systematic Literature Review of EmpiricalEvidence of the Impactsand Outcomesof ComputerGamesand Serious Games,”Computers & Education, Vol. 94, pp. 178192 (2016). doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2015.11.003
[6] Jonassen, D. H., Peck, K. C. and Wilson, B. G., Learning with Technology in the Classroom: a Constructivist Perspective, New York: Merrill/Prentice-Hall (1999).
[7] Chou, C. H., Chu, Y. L. and Chen, H. J., “A Mandarin Phonetic-symbol Communication Aid Developed on Tablet Computers for Children with High-functioning Autism,”Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 251258 (2017). doi: 10.6180/jase. 2017.20.2.13
[8] Chen, C. H., Su, C. C., Lee, P. Y. and Wu, F. G., “Augmented Interface for Children Chinese Learning,” Seventh IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, pp. 268270 (2007). doi: 10. 1109/ICALT.2007.76
[9] LearningMandarinPhoneticSymbol(ChineseVersion) [Online] Available: https://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/ kuai-le-xue-zhu-yin-free/id326275513?l=zh&mt=8.
[10] Match BoPoMo (Chinese Version) [Online] Available: https://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/match-bopomo-litefor-iphone/id499475010?l=zh&mt=8.
[11] Stowell, J. R., “Use of Clickers vs. Mobile Devices for Classroom Polling,” Computers & Education, Vol. 82, No. c, pp. 329334 (2015). doi: 10.1016/j.compedu. 2014.12.008
[12] Schneider, B., Wallace, J., Blikstein, P. and Pea, R., “Preparing for Future Learning with a Tangible User Interface: the Case of Neuroscience,” IEEE Trans. on Learning Technologies, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 117128 (2013). doi: 10.1109/TLT.2013.15
[13] Xu, D., Tangible User Interface for Children: an Overview, Department of Computing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK (2006).
[14] Shaer, O. and Hornecker, E., “Tangible User Interfaces: Past, Present, and Future Directions,” Foundations and Trends in Human-Computer Interaction, Vol. 3, No. 1–2, pp. 1137 (2010). doi: 10.1561/1100000026
[15] Markova, M. S., Wilson, S. and Stumpf, S., “Tangible User Interfaces for Learning,” International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, Vol. 4, No. 3/4, pp. 139155 (2012). doi: 10.1504/IJTEL.2012.051578
[16] Girouard, A., Solovey, E. T., Hirshfield, L. M., Ecott, S., Shaer, O. and Jacob, R. J. K., “SmartBlocks: a Tangible Mathematical Manipulative,” Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction, pp. 183186 (2007). doi: 10.1145/ 1226969.1227007
[17] Farr, W., Yuill, N. and Raffle, H., “Social Benefits of a Tangible User Interface for Children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions,” Autism, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 237252 (2010). doi: 10.1177/1362361310363280
[18] Merrill, D., Kalanithi, J. and Maes, P., “Siftables: Towards Sensor Network User Interfaces,” Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction, pp. 7578 (2007).
[19] Waranusast, R., Bang-ngoen, A. and Thipakorn, J., “Interactive Tangible User Interfacefor Music Learning,” 28th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing, pp. 400405 (2013). doi: 10.1109/ IVCNZ.2013.6727048
[20] Raymaekers, L., Vermeulen, J., Luyten, K. and Coninx, K., “Game of Tones: Learning to Play Songs on a Piano Using Projected Instructions and Games,” CHI 2014, pp. 411414 (2014). doi: 10.1145/2559206. 2574799
[21] Operating video of iBlock [Online] Available: https:// youtu.be/MXB7YD9Vr_o