Computer Assessment and Remediation of Children's Handwriting

描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议测试的可行性，以计算机为基础的系统，评估小学生的手写技能。该系统将包括一台个人计算机，配有输入手写数据的图形输入板和跟踪书写特征的复杂软件。对儿童书写的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，学生的书面写作技能与他或她快速自动书写所需的自动手指运动能力之间存在密切关系。通常，手写过程的质量不能通过检查手写产品来可靠地评估。一个客观的，自动的评估是必要的，以确定在多大程度上，一个孩子写字母与自动，动觉运动或提请字母与慢得多的视觉反馈控制。为了开发一个基于计算机的原型来评估发育适当的儿童的笔迹，我们将记录15个2-5年级的儿童的书写，以达到我们60名参与者的目标。在这些数据的基础上，我们将建立标准参考的截止分数，以优化原型的性能。如果第一阶段的研究证实以计算机为基础的评估的有效性，我们将在第二阶段建议开发和测试一个以计算机为基础的系统，用于（1）向评估系统识别的学生教授动觉笔迹，（2）改善主流学生和成人的笔迹，以及（3）用于脑损伤受害者的补救用途。相关性：手写技能对小学生很重要。研究表明，学生的书面写作技巧与其快速、自动书写所需的手指运动能力之间有着密切的关系。我们建议开发一个基于计算机的手写教学系统，每个学生可以支付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.