This past year, I had the pleasure of working with Doctor Yun Li PhD in Learning Science, as 2nd author, to help write a chapter in “Using Sound to Enhance Interactions in an Online Learning Environment”. As one of the basic information sources, non-speech sound enables us to function effectively in daily life. In the existing literature, non-speech sound is used to trigger attention, regulate emotions, and convey information in the learning materials such as instructional videos, auditory clips, and computer-based learning modules. When non-speech sound is embedded as the static media, limited interaction between learners and the learning interface is required. Given new technologies getting highly interactive, non-speech sound has great potential to enhance learner-interface interaction, thereby facilitating the learning process. This chapter reviewed existing literature to understand the circumstance in which non-speech sound is being used, and explored the possibilities of using non-speech sound in the interaction process to facilitate learning. Moreover, a rapid prototyping design of the integration of non-speech sound in the interaction process is described. In addition, a Web Audio API technique is introduced and the benefits of using this technique to generate non-speech sound are also discussed.
The Chapter was selected as part of a Book by Kay Seo and Scott Gibbons titled “Learning Technologies and User Interaction” . The book explores the complex interplay between educational technologies and those who rely on them to construct knowledge and develop skills. As learning and training continue to move onto digital platforms, tools such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, video games, virtual reality, and more hold considerable potential to foster advanced forms of synergy across contexts. Showcasing a variety of contributing writings and researchers who are attuned to today’s networked technologies, environments, and learning dynamics, this book is ideal for students and scholars of educational technology, instructional design, professional development, and research methods.