Addressing Reading Disparities for Students with Disabilities by Building Background and Vocabulary Knowledge

Charmtech Labs LLC with assistance from a consultant at the University Memphis, will, in the course of this 6-month SBIR Phase I Project, develop Background Knowledge Builder – an assistive reading intervention technology for students with disabilities. The goal of this project is to develop a prototype of Background Knowledge Builder that will utilize generative artificial intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms to create personalized learning activities that are intentionally designed to increase content and vocabulary knowledge using research-based practices (multiple exposures to words in multiple contexts, recycling words, etc.) to improve both depth and breadth of vocabulary knowledge. The objectives are: 1) Engineer AI prompts to automatically generate stories and supporting illustrations; 2) Develop NLP algorithms to automatically construct vocabulary activities for the intervention; 3) Develop the interactive components needed for the intervention; 4) Integrate all components into the Background Builder Prototype; and 5) Evaluate the Background Knowledge Builder prototype. Anticipated proximal outcomes include: 1) improved content-area knowledge, including content-specific vocabulary; 2) improved reading comprehension; and 3) higher engagement in both intervention activities and content classes. Anticipated distal outcomes include: 1) improved engagement in reading; 2) improved knowledge acquisition rate in subject classes; 3) improved grades; 4) improved state assessment scores, 5) improved graduation rates; and 6) better employment options. The expected products are Background Knowledge Builder, outreach materials, research papers, and reports.