Developing an Alternative Math Assessment Tool Using Speech Recognition

The world today is now in the era of Information Technology. The development of ICT-based processes specifically in the area of assessment in school is now visible. Project LISTEN (Literacy Innovation that Speech Technology ENables) is an inter-disciplinary research project at Carnegie Mellon University to develop a novel tool to improve literacy – an automated Reading Tutor that displays stories on a computer screen, and listens to children read aloud. This study does not provide right or wrong answers for they let the user evaluate the answer. The main objective of this study is to develop an Alternative Math Assessment Tool for Preschoolers using Speech Recognition. These software aims to assist teachers in the review of Math lessons for preschooler using speech recognition. The development of the system utilizes the System Development Cycle approach that includes data gathering to identify system’s expected functionalities, designing the system using Use-Case Diagram, integration of JSAPI for Voice Recognition, using Synthesizer software for reading the questions out loud, a graphical display of teacher representation and a graphical display for every questions in the review. Along in the development of this assessment tool is the implementation of the system. The system was developed using Java Programming language. It also uses MySql database to store data for preschooler, review questions and text answers. In the conduct of the review digital microphone and a speaker is needed. The developed system is capable of creating questions for a particular review, activating a review for the preschooler to take, and record the preschooler’s scores at every end of the review. The system also includes graphical display of questions. In the conduct of the review, the system was able to read out loud the questions, and a 5-second time span for the pupil to answer the review questions. The system will listen and the feedback from the study will display the correctly uttered answer. User testing results indicates an 83% correct response of system against the correct uttered answer of the preschooler.

The Effects of Rapid Growth of Universities on Human Resource Development in Pakistan

At the time of inception Pakistan had a very weak infrastructure of higher education but successive Governments did not do much to establish and strengthen tertiary education. Good policies with lack of political will and financial commitments proved unrealistic. Privatization in the early 70s followed by a mushroom growth of private institutions on a commercial basis and lack of commitment and absence of quality standards in public universities proved to be evils beyond UGC's control. Hence a large number of institutions admitting even larger number of students turned out to be a nightmare in terms of quality of human resource being produced by many institutions because they lacked human, financial and infrastructure resources required for the job. Taking stock of the situation the present Government established the Higher Education Commission with the primary task to enable universities and degree awarding institutions to develop effective human resource (faculty development) to create a synergy effect by imparting quality education to the able youth. To supplement and complement this, adequate financial resources for infrastructure are being provided and quality standards and procedures are being set in place. The researcher is of the view that the present interventions are a welcome effort and are likely to convert the ill effects of the recent mushroom growth of institutions of higher learning into positive ones in terms of producing effective human resource. However it is recommended that this effort should not be made in isolation and should be made as a national effort synchronizing school, college and university education into a solid blend so that quality and quantity complement and support each other.