NCSeT Receives Award from NCTI

NCSeT receives award from NCTI 's 2008 Technology in the Works for research on the benefits of captioning for all students.

National Center for Technology Innovation Recognizes Award Recipients for Innovative Research Serving Students with Special Needs

Winners Represent Innovation in Algebra Software for Visually Impaired Students to Text Messaging for Alternative Communications

Washington, DC—The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) announced today the Technology in the Works 2008 award recipients. The competition recognizes outstanding innovative teams of researchers and vendors who will examine the impact of assistive technologies for students with special needs. The distinguished 2008 winners propose to study the following:

Exploring the Benefits of Captioning for All Students, winners are CaptionMax and the National Center for Supported eText;
Exploring the Benefits of Speech-Enabled Calculators, winners are Emily Bouck from Purdue University and gh, LLC;
Exploring the Benefits of Instant Messaging on Augmentative Communication Devices; winners are Point-and-Read, Saltillo, and Jeff Higginbotham from the State University of New York at Buffalo;
Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Manipulatives and Cognitive Strategies for Mathematics Instruction for All Students, winners are Spotlight on Learning and Dave Edyburn from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and
Exploring the Benefits of Computer-Assisted Program for Students with Autism, winners are TeachTown, Inc., Jennifer Symon from the California State University, Los Angeles, and Connie Kasari, from the University of California, Los Angeles.

“We are delighted to have been selected as a 2008 Technology in the Works recipient,” noted Lynne Anderson-Inman, Director of the National Center for Supported eText. “This funding will enable us to investigate important research questions about effective ways to enhance captions and audio descriptions so as to maximize student learning from video.”

The National Center for Technology Innovation presented five awards exploring critical and varying topics in the assistive learning field. Each $15,000 award requires matching funds to explore research that examines the effectiveness of devices and software for students with special needs within a short turnaround period.

“Assistive technologies are ever-changing in today’s global market and have incredible potential to provide greater access for students with disabilities. It is critical that the field has access to immediate and reliable measures that identify effective technologies for students with disabilities,” commented Tracy Gray, Director of the National Center for Technology Innovation at the American Institutes for Research.

Research findings will be announced on November 20, 2008, at the kickoff of NCTI’s Technology Innovators Conference being held in Washington, DC. More information about the award recipients is available on the National Center for Technology Innovation Web site.

---

The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) (www.NationalTechCenter.org), established in 2001, advances learning opportunities for all students, with a special focus on those with disabilities, by fostering technology innovations. Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education, NCTI offers technical guidance to facilitate the growth and sustainability of assistive and learning tools. NCTI broadens and enriches the field by providing high-quality resources and developing meaningful partnerships with innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and practitioners. The National Center for Technology Innovation is housed at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, DC.

< Prev