Applying Universal Design for Learning in Augmented Reality Education Guidance for Hearing Impaired Student

Abstract

This study focused on the implementation of display technology used for providing information to hearing impaired students wishing to studying Information Technology (IT) at a higher education level. In this work, virtual reality scenes superimposed on the real world were created, using a smartphone application with specialized equipment to provide the projection. The Augmented Reality (AR) of smartphone applications was designed with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to help with learning of hearing impaired high school students. The objective of the mobile AR application was to provide students with a tool to understand the content without the help of teachers. Because video content has been translated into the Thai sign language, smartphones could be used to read markers serving to provide education guidance for higher education. In AR technology, virtual objects are placed real-time on the real environment. To provide education guidance, the study used an AR application called Aurasma. A heuristic technique and the UDL were applied to the development of the education guidance on Aurasma. A total of 30 students of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University took part in this study. The heuristic evaluation results of this study were rated as good and the application has a potential to help hearing impaired students to become more interested in higher education, resulting in more education opportunities in higher education for them.