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You are here | Journal of Ratchasuda College for Research and Development of Persons With Disabilities | Vol.6

Academic Articles

Effectiveness of using touch typing Software for The Visually Impaired

Researcher : Pakkatema Thiengtrong

E-mail : guzkung@hotmail.com


Abstract

This research was quasi experimental research with a control group using a posttest-only control group design. The purpose was to compare the touch typing skills in the Thai language of blind students before and after training using Typing Training Software for the Blind compared with using a regular method of practicing on Microsoft Word with a Screen Reader. The satisfaction level of blind students using the Typing Training Software for the Blind was also collected. The sample consisted of 30 blind students at the Bangkok School for the Blind, from grades 6 to 9. Data were collected during the first semester of the 2009 academic year. The sample was divided into 2 groups: a control group of 15 students and an experimental group of 15 students. Random assignment was used to select the sample and matched cases to controls by the level of visual impairment. Statistics used in this research were frequency, percentage, average, standardized variables and the independent sample t-test.

The results show that the touch typing skill of blind students in the Thai language in both groups improved significantly at p < 0.05. Blind students who used the Typing Training Software for the Blind acquired a higher level of touch typing skill than the students who practiced with the regular method. Also, the overall satisfaction level of the experimental group that used the Typing Training Software for the Blind was at a high level with an average value of 4.21. The recommendation of this study is for blind students to use the special Typing Training Software for the Blind in order to most efficiently improve their Thai language touch typing skill.


Keywords : Typing Training software for The Blind, Computer Assisted Instruction