DEVELOPMENT OF A HAPTICALLY ENHANCED DIGITAL APPLICATION MAGICSPELLS DESIGNED TO AID IN VOCABULARY ACQUISITION FOR LEARNERS WITH DYSLEXIA

This developmental research aims to (1) examine the developmental processes of the application called MagicSpells, a haptically-enhanced, digital, vocabulary acquisition application design for learners with dyslexia, and (2) investigate the structure and design of the application, and (3) analyze the results of the reviews and usability tests associated with the application. After the creator initially designed the app, the development evolved from concept to initial prototype. Participants in its developmental process include computer programmers, a haptic-touch technology CEO, dyslexia tutors, and dyslexia intervention specialists. The research participants are learners (ages 6-10) with dyslexia, who are native English language speakers, in grades one through five. This study was conducted in six phases: (1) reviewing literatures that cover dyslexia and reading, multisensory input, tools for learning to read/treatment, memory and the senses, educational, developmental research, and methods and approaches in developmental research, as a means to formulate and use fundamental design principles in the application, (2) developing the prototype MagicSpells application that adopts formulated design principals, (3) follow the development processes, (4) conducting expert reviews and usability tests of the application, (5) revising and updating the application through the repetitive expert reviews and usability tests, and (6) clarifying the implications of developmental research. The developed application is expected to demonstrate an approach to retaining and recognizing vocabulary in a digital format that includes innovative haptic technology.