Overview
The challenge: Facilitate learning for students of varied abilities
The solution: Liberated Learning Initiative using IBM speech recognition technology
The benefit: Higher student learning potential, independence and satisfaction
Making the grade with progressive learning environments
Earning top marks for their high-caliber programs, a group of 10 universities around the world are participating in an initiative to facilitate learning for various types of students. Saint Mary's University in Nova Scotia and California State University Northridge (CSUN) are spearheading the initiative.
In a traditional university setting, professors lecture to a class of students while the students take notes. For students with disabilities, learning by lecture may be difficult. Deaf and hard of hearing students cannot hear the lectures. Those with visual impairments cannot easily take notes. And students with learning disabilities may not be able to concentrate on the lecture and take notes at the same time. Furthermore, international students for whom English is a second language may not be able to keep up with fast-paced lectures.
Widely known for their cutting-edge research and commitment to students, Saint Mary's and CSUN are pioneers in making education accessible to their attendees through the Liberated Learning Initiative. A key component of the initiative is IBM speech recognition computer technology, which professors rely on to deliver classroom lectures.
As Saint Mary's Liberated Learning Initiative International Manager Keith Bain explains, "IBM speech recognition technology was originally implemented to help level the playing field for students with disabilities. But we have received overwhelming feedback from students without disabilities who believe in the tremendous potential of this technology as well."
Displaying lectures on-screen in real time
The participating professors first develop personalized voice profiles so the IBM speech recognition technology can understand their individual speaking styles. The software essentially recognizes the speaking style of each professor. While lecturing, the professors wear a wireless microphone that picks up their spoken words and sends them to the computer. The speech recognition technology then transcribes the audio into text — in real time — and projects it onto a large screen for students to read.
Following the lecture, comprehensive, computer-generated notes are available to students online and in various other formats — text or audio only, or a synchronized text-to-audio version.
Dr. Amir Hussain, CSUN Professor of Religious Studies says, "The technology benefits deaf and hard-of-hearing students by allowing them to see the words that I speak. Blind students can use the audio version of the lecture, or convert the electronic text to braille. It benefits learning disabled students who are better able to process information that they can see rather than hear. And, both disabled and non-disabled students benefit from the edited transcripts of each class."
Saint Mary's Professor of Sociology Dr. Gene Barrett also finds use in the technology. "As a professor I benefit as well by using the class notes to improve the coherence of my material."
The next assignment
Saint Mary's University is teaming with two Australian universities and IBM to develop a network version of IBM speech recognition technology so students in a classroom can view lectures on laptops right at their desks.
"This technology, coupled with the vast resources available at CSUN for various types of students, allows us to capitalize on the technology's far-reaching possibilities,"
—Dr. Bud Rizer, director CSUN Center on Disabilities.