Title
Requirements for a virtual environment to support the social participation education of low-literates
Author
Schouten, D.G.M.
Smets, N.J.J.M.
Driessen, M.
Fuhri, K.
Neerincx, M.A.
Cremers, A.H.M.
Publication year
2016
Abstract
People of low literacy experience difficulties while participating in society. Learning support software could help alleviate these difficulties. However, there is currently no overview of theoretically and empirically sound requirements for this kind of support. This paper uses the situated cognitive engineering method to create a requirements baseline for a virtual environment to support the societal participation education of low-literates (VESSEL), based on an analysis of the domain, human factors, and current applications. Four major outcomes are presented. First, a comprehensive overview is collected of the operational demands and human factors knowledge relevant to societal participation learning for low-literate citizens. Second, this overview is translated into a list of eight functional requirements: focused on low-literate learners, set in the context of societal participation, and supported by claims of cognitive, affective, and social benefits to learning. Third, a sample of Dutch societal participation learning support programs is assessed using these requirements, to highlight both current technology best practices and discrepancies between theory and practice. Fourth, virtual learning environment technology is suggested as an ‘enabling’ technology; an overview is shown of how virtual environments, actors, and objects can beneficially enable meeting the requirements baseline. Finally, directions for future study are discussed.
Subject
Human & Operational Modelling
PCS - Perceptual and Cognitive Systems
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Societal participation
Low literacy
Virtual learning environment
Situated cognitive engineering
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:547371f7-b3dc-488d-a74e-512f69f1460b
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-016-0502-z
TNO identifier
574810
Source
Universal Access in the Information Society - November 2016, 1-18
Document type
conference paper