February 15, 2016
Collaboration between College of Allied Health and College of Education
In an interdisciplinary collaboration for research and community service, Drs. Lucía I. Méndez and Ken Luterbach have developed an iPad app to assist with bilingual vocabulary assessment.
Dr. Méndez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (College of Allied Health Sciences) is researching culturally and linguistically responsive approaches to academic vocabulary and literacy development in preschool Dual Language Learners. As a Faculty scholar in ECU’s Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy, Dr. Méndez has partnered with local Head Start preschools to conduct her research with Latino children.
Dr. Ken Luterbach is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Technology Education (College of Education). Dr. Luterbach’s research and development efforts have two primary goals: (1) to enhance resource sharing, particularly of effective, efficient, and inspiring instruction; and (2) to advance software tutoring by implementing effective conversational agents.
The bilingual vocabulary assessment app presents 30 sets of four images, from which learners select one in response to an audible prompt in either Spanish or English embedded in the app. This app streamlines the administration process and scores the children’s responses. The results are used for formative evaluation and research purposes.