Computer Assessment and Remediation of Children's Handwriting

描述(申请人提供)：我们建议测试一个基于计算机的系统的可行性，以评估小学生的书写技能。该系统将由一台个人电脑组成，其中包括一台用于输入手写数据的图形输入板，以及用于跟踪笔迹特征的复杂软件。对儿童笔迹认知过程的研究表明，书写缓慢、费力的儿童有写作失败的风险。研究进一步表明，学生的写作技能与他或她做出快速、自动书写所需的自动手指动作的能力之间存在着很强的联系。通常，手写过程的质量不能通过对手写产品的检查来可靠地评估。一个客观的、自动的评估是必要的，以确定儿童在多大程度上用自动的动觉动作写字母，或者用慢得多的视觉反馈控制来画字母。为了开发一个基于计算机的原型来评估适合发展的儿童的手写能力，我们将记录15名2-5年级儿童的书写，以获得60名参与者的目标。在这些数据的测量的基础上，我们将建立标准参考截止分数来优化原型的性能。如果第一阶段的研究证实电脑评估的有效性，我们会在第二阶段建议发展和测试一套电脑系统(1)向被评估系统识别的学生教授动觉笔迹，(2)改善主流学生和成年人的笔迹，以及(3)为脑损伤受害者提供补救用途。相关性：书写技能对于小学阶段的孩子来说很重要。研究表明，写作技能与学生快速、自动书写笔迹所必需的手指动作的能力之间存在着很强的联系。我们建议开发一个基于计算机的手写教学系统，每个学生的费用为20-30美元。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to test the feasibility of a computer-based system for assessing the handwriting skills of elementary-school students. The system will consist of a personal computer with a graphics tablet to input handwriting data and sophisticated software to track the characteristics of the writing. Research on the cognitive processes in children's handwriting suggests that children with slow, labored handwriting are at risk for failure in written composition. Research further suggests a strong relationship between a student's skill in written composition and his or her ability to make the automatic finger movements necessary for rapid, automatic production of handwriting. Generally, the quality of the handwriting process cannot be reliably evaluated by examination of the handwritten product. An objective, automatic assessment is necessary to determine the extent to which a child writes letters with automatic, kinesthetic movement or draws letters with much slower visual-feedback control. To develop a computer-based prototype for assessing the handwriting of developmentally appropriate children, we will record the writing of 15 children in grades 2-5 to obtain our target of 60 participants. On the basis of measures derived from these data, we will establish criterion-referenced cut-off scores to optimize the performance of the prototype. Should the research in Phase-I confirm the validity of computer-based assessment, we will propose in Phase II to develop and test a computer-based system (1) for teaching kinesthetic handwriting to students identified by the assessment system, (2) for improving the handwriting of mainstream students and adults, and (3) for remedial use by brain-injury victims. RELEVANCE: Handwriting skill is important to children in elementary school. Research has shown a strong relationship between skill in written composition and a student's ability to make the finger movements necessary for rapid, automatic production of handwriting. We propose to develop a computer-based system for handwriting instruction that can be delivered for $20-30 per student.