Gallaudet University researchers awarded NSF grant to develop AI tool for deaf science education

Dr. Lorna Quandt (Program in Educational Neuroscience) and Dr. Alicia Wooten (School of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health) have been awarded a $370,522 collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for "Collaborative Research: Building Real-time Intelligent Grounding in Deaf Education."

This two-year initiative, starting September 15, 2024, and ending August 31, 2026, aims to revolutionize collaborative learning for deaf students in science education. Other collaborating institutions include the University of Pittsburgh and Northeastern University. They will work with the Gallaudet team to develop an AI tool to enhance collaborative learning in university biology classes for deaf students. The research team hypothesizes that AI-driven technology can significantly improve the collaborative experience and learning outcomes for deaf students.

Dr. Quandt, co-principal investigator, stated, "This project has the potential to transform how deaf students engage with complex scientific concepts. By providing real-time, adaptive support, we aim to create a more inclusive and effective learning environment."

Dr. Alicia Wooten, co-principal investigator, added, "Our goal is not just to improve science education for deaf students, but also to increase representation of deaf individuals in scientific fields. This technology could open doors for many aspiring deaf scientists."

This interdisciplinary project brings together experts in ASL scientific lexicons, learning sciences, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. It aims to advance inclusive education strategies, particularly in collaborative learning for science. The project is funded by NSF's Research on Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Learning (RITEL) program, which supports early-stage exploratory research in emerging technologies for teaching and learning.