SBIR-STTR Award

The next generation of science and health care professionals will need to understand the foundational concepts of physics. While textbooks play a critical role in science learning, these books are not designed to meet the diverse learning needs of students in today’s classrooms. Unfortunately, science textbooks assume a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Because of this problem, teachers spend substantial time outside of the classroom locating and adapting texts to support students who are learning English, students who read below grade level, and students with learning disabilities. The proposed Fast-Track project seeks to address the limitations of current physical science textbooks and to revolutionize reading with interactive texts. Transforming the learning process, SquidBooks makes texts flexible by offering digital texts at different difficulty levels with embedded language support to create a personalized reading experience, optimizing both learning and engagement. In particular, the project will support ELL students and students unable to read at their grade level. Because science textbooks are often written 3 to 5 years above the intended grade level, it is almost impossible for students with emerging and intermediate English reading skills to comprehend and learn from traditional science books. The Phase I project includes 3 aims: translating NGSS-aligned force and motion (NGSS PS2A) content into Spanish (Aim 1); designing and developing science learning games (Aim 2); and conducting user testing with students and teachers (Aim 3). The Phase II project will have 3 aims, including creating content in both English and Spanish to address 9 additional NGSS standards (Aim 4); designing, developing, and testing improved software features (Aim 5); developing educator resources and conducting user testing with students and teachers (Aim 6). Successful completion of the proposed project will create knowledge about disciplinary textual processing and adaptive learning technologies and will support students who have historically been marginalized from STEM fields, especially students with low reading achievement and ELL students. In turn, this project will enhance and diversify the STEM and health care fields.

Public Health Relevance Statement:


Project narrative:
Although science textbooks are a central curricular resource in K-12 education, they are often inaccessible and difficult to read; this problem is compounded when students are unable to read at their grade level, are learning English, or have diagnosed learning disabilities. This Fast-Track project will produce a bilingual, digital platform to support students’ understanding of Physical Science, which will allow students to seamlessly move between different reading levels and languages, play science learning games, and receive personalized content. This project will also solicit feedback from teachers and students, develop teacher support materials, and evaluate the efficacy of SquidBooks at improving science learning outcomes.

Project Terms:
adaptive learning; Address; Adoption; base; bilingualism; Books; Collaborations; Complex; Computer software; design; Diagnosis; digital; Drops; Education Projects; education resources; eighth grade; English Learner; experience; Feedback; field study; flexibility; Foundations; Future Teacher; hands-on learning; Health Professional; Healthcare; Home environment; improved; Internet; K-12 Education; Knowledge; Language; Learning; learning community; Learning Disabilities; learning engagement; learning outcome; machine learning algorithm; Middle School Student; Modeling; Motion; next generation; personalized learning; Phase; physical science; Physics; Play; Process; Randomized; Reader; Reading; reading ability; Research Personnel; Resources; response; Rewards; Role; Schools; Science; science teacher; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education; scientific literacy; Scientist; skills; statistics; STEM field; Students; teacher; Techniques; Technology; Testing; Text; Textbooks; theories; Time; tool; Translating; Translations; usabil

The next generation of science and health care professionals will need to understand the foundationalconcepts of physics. While textbooks play a critical role in science learning, these books are not designed tomeet the diverse learning needs of students in today's classrooms. Unfortunately, science textbooks assume aone-size-fits-all approach to learning. Because of this problem, teachers spend substantial time outside of theclassroom locating and adapting texts to support students who are learning English, students who read belowgrade level, and students with learning disabilities. The proposed Fast-Track project seeks to address thelimitations of current physical science textbooks and to revolutionize reading with interactive texts.Transforming the learning process, SquidBooks makes texts flexible by offering digital texts at differentdifficulty levels with embedded language support to create a personalized reading experience, optimizing bothlearning and engagement. In particular, the project will support ELL students and students unable to read attheir grade level. Because science textbooks are often written 3 to 5 years above the intended grade level, it isalmost impossible for students with emerging and intermediate English reading skills to comprehend and learnfrom traditional science books. The Phase I project includes 3 aims: translating NGSS-aligned force andmotion (NGSS PS2A) content into Spanish (Aim 1); designing and developing science learning games (Aim 2);and conducting user testing with students and teachers (Aim 3). The Phase II project will have 3 aims,including creating content in both English and Spanish to address 9 additional NGSS standards (Aim 4);designing, developing, and testing improved software features (Aim 5); developing educator resources andconducting user testing with students and teachers (Aim 6). Successful completion of the proposed project willcreate knowledge about disciplinary textual processing and adaptive learning technologies and will supportstudents who have historically been marginalized from STEM fields, especially students with low readingachievement and ELL students. In turn, this project will enhance and diversify the STEM and health care fields.

Public Health Relevance Statement:


Project narrative:
Although science textbooks are a central curricular resource in K-12 education, they are often inaccessible and difficult to read; this problem is compounded when students are unable to read at their grade level, are learning English, or have diagnosed learning disabilities. This Fast-Track project will produce a bilingual, digital platform to support students' understanding of Physical Science, which will allow students to seamlessly move between different reading levels and languages, play science learning games, and receive personalized content. This project will also solicit feedback from teachers and students, develop teacher support materials, and evaluate the efficacy of SquidBooks at improving science learning outcomes.

Project Terms:
<8th grade>