A Study on Participation in Digital Learning and Development of a Digital Learning Program for Students with Visual Impairments

[[abstract]]This three-year research will mainly investigate the competencies of digital participation of students with total blindness and develop a digital participation enhancement programs. For the first year, the researchers will complete a digitized Chinese Braille reading and writing system (CBRWS). Next, a survey will be used to investigate the competencies of digital participation of middle and elementary students with total blindness, in order to better understand their needs and competencies of digital participation. For the second year, the digitized Chinese Braille reading and writing system (CBRWS) will be used to test the application effects of programs developed by other sub-projects. And, a draft of digital participation enhancement program will be developed and its applicability will also be examined (by middle and elementary students with total blindness) for improvement. For the third year, the participants of a large sample size will be invited to join the digital participation enhancement program. In addition, the learning outcome and feedback of these participants will be recorded and analyzed. Finally, a follow-up survey on the competencies of digital participation will be conducted to discover whether there are differences in terms of competencies of digital participation. The research methods will include: Single-subject research methods, system-testing, expert-testing and user surveys, and qualitative case study methods. Hopefully, the results of this study will improve quality and frequency of digital participation, and outcome of e-learning in students with total blindness. Finally, suggestions for future researchers will be provided.