I-Corps: Visual Learning Studios

这个项目的重点是为视觉学习者提供工具。在被认定有学习障碍的儿童中，很大一部分将从高中辍学。残疾学习者往往缺乏自尊和自信，因为他们经常难以用传统的教学方法学习。因此，他们经常放弃，而没有意识到他们内在的优势和能力，以不同的方式学习。另一方面，如果有阅读障碍、自闭症和注意力缺陷多动症的人得到良好的教育并坚持下去，社会就会受益匪浅。该项目的技术“视觉学习研究”（VLS）为学习差异的学习者增加了机会；让更多的人完成学业，成为对社会有贡献的人，推动我们国家的经济发展。Visual Learning Studios （VLS）是一个针对自闭症、ADD和阅读障碍儿童的学习需求和差异的在线互动和差异化教育平台。这些学习者通常在视觉处理方面有优势，同时他们的语言处理能力较弱。由于语言处理方面的挑战，他们很难通过被认为是“传统”的阅读和听力来学习。传统教科书和在线教科书是为普通大众编写的，语言密集。相比之下，VLS通过使用视频和图像的丰富视觉图像以及“精简”语言来传达内容，这对有这些障碍的学习者来说更容易处理和理解。在I-Corps项目期间，这个I-Corps团队进行市场研究，以验证其与潜在客户的市场进入策略。该小组计划与学校系统管理员、普通教育教师、特殊教育教师、语言和语言病理学家、社会工作者、职业治疗师和教学材料设计师会面，探讨VLS技术的可行性。

This project focuses on tools for learners who are visual learners. Of children identified with a learning disability, a large percentage will drop out of high school. Learners with disabilities often have low self-esteem and low self-confidence because they have frequently have difficulty learning with traditional teaching methods. As a result, they often give up without realizing their inherent strengths and abilities to learn in different ways. On the other hand, society benefits greatly when people with dyslexia, autism, and ADD are taught well and persist. This project's technology, "Visual Learning Studies" (VLS), increases the opportunities for learners with learning differences; bringing more of them to complete their education and become productive contributors to society and to advancing our nation's economy.Visual Learning Studios (VLS) is an online interactive and differentiated educational platform targeting the learning needs and differences of children with autism, ADD and dyslexia. These learners typically have strengths in visual processing, while at the same time, their language processing is weak. As a result of the language processing challenges, they have difficulty learning through what are considered "traditional" means of reading and listening. Written for the general population, traditional textbooks and online textbooks are language dense. In contrast, the VLS communicates content through rich visual imagery using videos and images as well as through "lean" language that is easier for learners with these impairments to process and understand. During the I-Corps program, this I-Corps team conducts market research to validate its go-to-market strategy with potential customers. The team plans to meet with school system administrators, general education teachers, special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, social workers, occupational therapists and instructional materials designers to explore the viability of the VLS technology.