SPONSORING OFFICE:
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Abstract:
CYBER Learning Corporation proposes a small business innovative research project to develop and field-test a functional prototype of the Situational Evaluation Resource Tool designed in Phase I. The proposed Phase II project will extend the design document prepared in Phase I with the development and evaluation of the Situational Evaluation Resource Tool . The goal of Phase II is to meet the needs of professionals (school districts), learning-disabled individuals, their parents, and involved educators in using Internet instructional materials to improve learning for K-12 students with learning disabilities. Proof of concept for this project will be conducted with teachers whose classrooms include students with learning disabilities. The testing site will be a large urban school district. The Situational Evaluation Resource Tool will assist in the planning for the acquisition and re-purposing of Internet instructional technology and media.

Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
Phase I of the project resulted in a design document for the Situational Evaluation Resource Tool (SERT) . The tool is based on current research in the 4th Generation Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Model. The purpose of SERT is to provide a systematic process for the use of validated templates to determine which instructional media will meet the special needs of students with learning disabilities and support the requirements of families and professionals in rehabilitation and special education. It is anticipated that SERT would be connected to a database, accessible through an Internet site. Phase II of the project involves research and development in applying this software application in the review and evaluation of instructional media, focusing on electronic networks and multimedia. The results would lead to the development of additional applications for the disabled, using a validated software approach. This result would lead to an expanded database. The objectives of Phase II are threefold:

1. development of a functional prototype and conducting of an alpha evaluation to validate the content, to test usability, and to test reliability;
2. revision of the prototype and conducting of a beta evaluation in cooperation with a large urban school district; and
3. preparation of documentation and Phase III work plan for commercialization of SERT.

The commercial potential of the project lies in the applicability of automated tools for Situational Evaluation to evaluating the varied needs of the disabled. This firm proposes to offer its solution in all relevant markets, combining understanding and support for the infusion of technology with the concern for human factors. We anticipate that the technologies and educational materials we identify and make meaningful can be distributed over the Internet. In addition we will utilize our teaming arrangement with the University of Minnesota to add topics for educators and professionals dealing with the disabled to the Institute for Advanced Learning Technology. The commercial potential includes the ability to customize this validated model to meet a variety of needs (e.g., business education and training). With the emerging commercialization of the Internet, this process lends itself to occupation specific educational databases and clearinghouse services. The current trend is for these services to be paid for by advertisers, professional organizations and/or selected corporations.

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