EmoBridge: Bridging the Communication Gap between Students with Disabilities and Peer Note-Takers Utilizing Emojis and Real-Time Sharing

TL;DR

EmoBridge is a real-time collaborative note-taking platform that uses emojis to improve communication between students with disabilities and peer note-takers, enhancing participation and inclusivity.

Contribution

This paper introduces EmoBridge, a novel emoji-based communication tool designed to improve collaboration and inclusivity in peer note-taking programs for students with disabilities.

Findings

Improved class participation for students with disabilities.

Reduced sole responsibility for peer note-takers.

Enhanced communication and collaboration through EmoBridge.

Abstract

Students with disabilities (SWDs) often struggle with note-taking during lectures. Therefore, many higher education institutions have implemented peer note-taking programs (PNTPs), where peer note-takers (PNTs) assist SWDs in taking lecture notes. To better understand the experiences of SWDs and PNTs, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eight SWDs and eight PNTs. We found that the interaction between SWDs and PNTs was predominantly unidirectional, highlighting specific needs and challenges. In response, we developed EmoBridge, a collaborative note-taking platform that facilitates real-time collaboration and communication between PNT-SWD pairs using emojis. We evaluated EmoBridge through an in-the-wild study with seven PNT-SWD pairs. The results showed improved class participation for SWDs and a reduced sense of sole responsibility for PNTs. Based on these insights, we discuss design implications for collaborative note-taking systems aimed at enhancing PNTPs and fostering more effective and inclusive educational experiences for SWDs.