{"id":7411,"date":"2019-05-23T07:25:42","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T14:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/garage-en-us\/?p=7411"},"modified":"2019-06-12T14:36:18","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T21:36:18","slug":"learn-vocabulary-from-the-world-around-you-with-new-microsoft-garage-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://cm-edgetun.pages.dev/en-us/garage\/blog\/2019\/05\/learn-vocabulary-from-the-world-around-you-with-new-microsoft-garage-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn vocabulary from the world around you with new Microsoft Garage project"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first week of their Garage internship in Vancouver, eight interns were inspired by a Microsoft Education team challenge to build an app that could empower literacy. Today we\u2019re excited to announce the opportunity for literacy NGOs and nonprofits to participate in an experiment that will test their work. Read My World, a Microsoft Garage project<\/a>, is an app for Android that empowers low literacy and English Language Learning (ELL) adults to improve their English literacy skills by building a stronger vocabulary. If you work at an organization that serves these communities, we welcome you to request an invitation to join the experiment<\/a> via a short, online questionnaire.<\/p>\n

Empathy fuels a unique approach to adult literacy<\/h2>\n

Passion abounded within the team of interns, each with their own powerful reason for jumping headfirst into the project. \u201cTackling literacy is such a huge brief; we spent a lot of time scoping that down to something we tackle during an internship,\u201d shares Kit Weil, the Design Intern for Read My World. The team began deep research on low literacy communities around the world and why someone might encounter challenges as they built English reading and writing skills. \u201cWe were surprised to learn that adult literacy is a challenge everywhere, even in Canada,\u201d adds Kate Macdonald, the Program Manager Intern of the project. \u201cThere are great programs for learning English, but someone might not have the time funds, or access to a long and periodic classroom style experience.<\/p>\n

\"Garage
The Read My World Garage intern team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Garage intern team decided to zero in on building an experience that could take a unique approach to helping busy adults grow English vocabulary outside of the classroom. After conducting research and speaking to local non-profits and government agencies helping adults master the English language, the team landed on a clearer picture of their target user and a tool that would help: adults learning English that wanted to supplement their classroom training with a vocabulary builder or adults that couldn\u2019t participate a class at all due to high costs or conflicts with work or family care schedules.<\/p>\n

Nicole Joyal, a Software Developer Intern, shares \u201cOriginally, we were planning more of a lesson plan style approach, but through our research and discovery we realized a Swiss army knife might be more useful. We wound up building a tool that can help you throughout your day-to-day rather than something that teaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grow vocabulary from objects found in the world around you<\/h2>\n

Read My World takes a learn-as-you-go approach; when learners encounter objects or documents in their everyday lives, they can use the app to take a picture and detect vocabulary words using the Azure Cognitive Services APIs<\/a> that power the project. Users can then save words to strengthen comprehension and memorization in any of three vocabulary games. After sharing early versions of Read My World with teachers and learners, the team also added a feature to detect words in documents.
\n\"Read_My_World_Screenshot_202\"Key features include:<\/strong><\/p>\n