EVALUATION OF THE MOBILE LEARNING APPLICATIONS THAT CAN BE USED TO DEVELOP ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AMONG STUDENTS WITH BLINDNESS IN THE INCLUSIVE CLASS

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the mobile applications that can be used in the inclusive classroom to teach and enhance English language skills among students with blindness. The analytical research design was employed in the current study. Using specific keywords and criteria, a total of 64 Voice Recognition Software (VRS), 31 Optical Character Recognition software (OCR), 34 Text to Speech software (TTS), and 59 e-Dictionaries available in android platform from January to August 2021 were analyzed using accessibility and usability checklist prepared by the authors. The tool's validity and consistency were gained through experts' good judgment and following the inter-rater reliability method. The findings of the study revealed that Google Assistant, Google Translator, SayHi Translator, and Talking Translator were ranked first among the VRS and e-Dictionaries, so they are considered as the best VRS and e-Dictionaries available in android platform that can be used to develop vocabulary and speaking skills among students with blindness. Whereas, Scanner Go, Clear Scanner, vFlat, Documents Scanner, Google Lens and Fast Scan Apps were ranked first among the OCR software. However, T2S, @Voice, Google Lens, and TTS Reader Apps were ranked first among the TTS Apps and considered as the best free TTS Apps available in android platform. Therefore, they are highly recommended to be used by general teachers in inclusive settings to compensate the lack of special technology, adapt the English subject curriculum for students with blindness, and enhance the students' self-learning and participation in the English class.