Saima Tariq, Saiida Naz, Humaira Shamim Kiyani.
Effect of Pakistan Early Learning System (PELS) - Computer Assisted Learning on English Alphabet Learning in Children with Hearing Impairment.
Int J Rehab Sci Jan ;06(01):23-5.

Background: Children with hearing impairment (HI) are being taught in segregated setups in Pakistan. In depth capacity building, which is base to concrete learning, cannot be developed because syllabus for HI children is modified and teaching methods used are traditional instead of modern computer based educational system1 . Emphasis is more on theoretical work than on practical projects2 . Computer based teaching software and programmes have been adopted to teach HI population globally. Computer based teaching methods have now proved to be more productive, for development of better understanding than traditional teaching strategies, by many researchers all over the world(3, 4) . Objectives: The objective of this study is to measure the effects of PELS- computer assisted learning, a web based software, on learning English alphabets in children with hearing impairment. Methodology: Randomized control trial was carried out for this study. Fifteen students with hearing impairment aged 5-8 years were selected randomly and pre test comprised of English alphabet matching, matching to pictures, matching to sign language, sequencing and sorting odd ones out was held. These children were then taught through computer assisted learning (CAL) i.e Pakistan early learning system (PELS), a newly created web based software for six weeks. Post test was then conducted to test the efficacy of the software for learning English Alphabets. The results of pre and post tests were then compared. Results: The pretest score was 1.600 with standard deviation ± .632 and post test score was 3.000 with standard deviation of ± .1.195 and p value is 0.000 which is highly significant. Conclusion: The results of PELS for teaching English alphabets in children with hearing impairment are significant which shows that computer assisted learning is fruitful and children show great interest in computer assisted learning and their learning outcome is significant.

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