A Virtual Environment Based on DAISY Technology for Developing EFL Reading Comprehension Skills of Preparatory Stage Visually- Impaired Pupils and Reducing their Cognitive Load

Abstract

The current study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using a proposed virtual environment based on DAISY technology for developing EFL reading comprehension skills of preparatory stage visually- impaired pupils and reducing their cognitive load while reading. Based on the literature review, related studies and content specification of first year prep, seven EFL reading comprehension sub-skills were determined. Two intact groups were assigned as experimental studying reading through the proposed E- environment; and the other as control studying through the traditional method. Instruments of the study included: a reading comprehension test, and a cognitive load scale for measuring those pupils’ cognitive load level before and after the experiment. The content of the units was taught to pupils through the proposed virtual environment. Results revealed that the proposed virtual environment had a great effect on enhancing the pupils’ EFL reading skills and reducing their cognitive load while reading as there were statistically significant differences between each of the pre- and post- administrations of both the reading comprehension test and the cognitive load scale. The study also proposed some recommendations and suggestions for further research. Key Words: DAISY Technology, EFL Reading comprehension skills, Cognitive load, the Visually-Impaired. Introduction: Learning a foreign language is important for everybody, particularly if the person’s native language is not very widespread, and it is a demand for communication in modern cognitive load level before and after the experiment. The content of the units was taught to pupils through the proposed virtual environment. Results revealed that the proposed virtual environment had a great effect on enhancing the pupils’ EFL reading skills and reducing their cognitive load while reading as there were statistically significant differences between each of the pre- and post- administrations of both the reading comprehension test and the cognitive load scale. The study also proposed some recommendations and suggestions for further research. Key Words: DAISY Technology, EFL Reading comprehension skills, Cognitive load, the Visually-Impaired.