What is Multi-sensory Learning?
Multi-sensory learning involves the use of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways to enhance retention and learning of language. There is significant evidence from neuroscience that multi-sensory learning is an effective method for language acquisition.
To understand why multi-sensory learning is one of the most effective student engagement strategies, it’s important to understand how our minds work. We constantly experience multi-sensory stimulation in the real world. The human brain has evolved to learn and grow in a multi-sensory environment. It is likely that the human brain has evolved to develop, learn, and operate optimally in multi-sensory environments. We remember how to do things best when the directions given engage multiple senses.
Literacy, in particular, is an inherently multi-sensory skill that benefits from “differentiated reading instruction.” This is because reading involves both recognizing written words and converting them into their corresponding letter sounds. For students who are struggling or those with reading challenges, multi-sensory learning can be especially beneficial.
Technology and Language Learning
Technology for language learning in classrooms includes the use of film, television, and computers in contemporary language labs. Computer-assisted learning is gaining popularity across countries. Technology is becoming more accessible to both individuals and schools. Interest in using technology to support language learning is growing, both for educators and language learners. Research on the use of technology in the learning of the second language shows that the use of video and audio supports vocabulary acquisition, reading and comprehension. A hurdle that inhibits the use of technology has often been the inability to integrate the solution into classroom pedagogy.
Combining multi-sensory learning with computer technology enables the delivery of an effective learning process. When this method is integrated with curriculum and merged into the school timetable, the solution is sustainable.
Learning English in Indian Schools
English reading and literacy levels are extremely low in the country. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) declared that the number of children in grade 3 who can read a simple sentence in English is extremely low. In 2016, less than 50% of students in grade 5 could read a simple sentence in English.
In India, English is the language for social empowerment, higher education, business and governance. English is taught in most schools as a second or third language. Schools with English as the primary medium of instruction are fewer in number compared to the rest.
Learning English is challenging for most students. Many learners are not exposed to English in their daily lives. There is a significant difference in the composition of English speaking population between rural and urban areas. Further, there is a paucity of qualified English teachers.
Technology-enabled learning solutions have the demonstrated potential to solve the English literacy crisis on a large scale. ReadToMe®, a multi-sensory reading and comprehension software, has been in use in government schools since 2013. Students learning with the ReadToMe® on a sustained basis have registered 50% improvement in English proficiency, as compared to the counterfactual. The software reaches 8 million students in India. The program will be implemented in 100,000 schools reaching over 20 million students in 2020.
ReadToMe Student Edition: Multi-sensory Reading And Comprehension App
ReadToMe Student Edition is an Android-based application which will enable students of all socio-economic backgrounds to learn and practise English anytime, anywhere. ReadToMe Student Edition is an affordable app available for download on Google Play Store.
The classroom is an important part of a student’s learning journey. In schools where ReadToMe® is deployed, students read aloud in groups along with the software. Teachers use the various features offered to enable reading and comprehension of the English textbook.
Classroom activity cannot cater to each student’s style and pace of learning. Research confirms self- learning to be an important part of the learning process. It is very helpful when family members are educated and can help students who self-learn at home. Many of us will recall the support provided by an older sibling or parents to get through the challenge of ‘home-work’! However, this is not available to many students who come from low-income backgrounds. The access to an app that is familiar and can help with reading and comprehension of prescribed textbooks is a boon for these learners.
In Summary
The role of technology as an important aid for education is now established. English is aspirational and challenging. The challenge of learning English in school is being addressed by the integration of multi-sensory reading and comprehension AI technology into the school curriculum. Self-learning at home is important for ensuring superior learning outcomes. ReadToMe Student Edition is an affordable app that can be accessed on Google Play Store. It may be the answer to the home study challenge that is faced by students from lower-income segments.
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